Europe’s heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6 has launched 36 satellites for Amazon’s low-Earth orbit constellation, using four upgraded solid-propellant boosters that the European Space Agency (ESA) says increase performance and set a new European record for the most cargo carried to space in a single launch.
According to ESA, Ariane 6 flight VA269 lifted off on 17 June at 09:21 local time from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. ESA said the satellites were deployed into orbit just over an hour after liftoff, marking what it described as the eighth successful mission insertion in a row for the launcher.
The launch was the first to use four boosters based on the P160C solid-propellant rocket motor. ESA said each booster carries 14 tonnes more propellant than the earlier P120C variant, enabling the rocket to place 36 satellites into orbit on one mission—four more than on previous Ariane 6 launches carrying Amazon satellites.
ESA said the P160C-based boosters can increase Ariane 6 performance by up to 15%, adding around two tonnes to low-Earth orbit capability. The agency said the flight set a new European single-launch cargo record, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Ariane 5 in 2013 during a 20-tonne International Space Station supply mission using ATV Albert Einstein.
“Ariane 6 has proven itself yet again, cementing its versatility as a launcher that can deliver all types of missions to all orbits, giving us more confidence and possibilities for Europe’s autonomous access to space,” said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja said the flight was “the most powerful launch in Europe’s history,” and pointed to ongoing efforts to improve the launcher’s performance.
ESA said the P160C adds 14 tonnes of propellant over the P120C, bringing total propellant to 156 tonnes and increasing booster height by one metre to 14.5 metres, without affecting the connection to Ariane 6’s central core or the overall booster height integration.
The agency also highlighted that the motors used in Ariane 6 boosters are also used on ESA’s Vega-C rocket, arguing that common hardware and technology can lower costs and improve the supply chain to support more frequent launches.
ESA said P160C was developed by Europropulsion under contract from ArianeGroup and Avio. It said the booster structure is made in Italy, the nozzle in France and the igniter in Norway, with boosters fuelled and finalised for Ariane 6 in French Guiana. ESA said France’s space agency CNES manages range operations at the spaceport, while Arianespace served as the launch service provider for this flight for Amazon.
