Ariane 6 blueprint poster of Europe's heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, providing great power and flexibility at a lower cost than its predecessors. The launcher’s configuration – with an upgraded main stage, a choice of either two or four powerful boosters and a new restartable upper stage – provides Europe with greater efficiency and possibility as it can launch multiple missions into different orbits on a single flight, while its upper stage can deorbit itself at the end of mission.

Ariane 6 stands 56 to 62 m tall depending on the size of the passenger it is launching. It is taller (and straighter) than the Leaning Tower of Pisa when carrying its cargo or ‘payload’ and can weigh almost 900 000 kg (900 tonnes) in its heaviest configuration, roughly equivalent to two fully loaded Boeing 747-8 airplanes.

Ariane 6 has a modular structure consisting of three main portions: a main stage with either two or four boosters, an upper (orbital) stage and the payload in its fairing.

The rocket is available in different versions depending on the amount of thrust required: the Ariane 62 has two boosters and the Ariane 64 has four, providing extra boost for heavier payloads or destinations further afield. Two types of boosters are available as well, the P120C-based version debuted in 2024 and in 2026 Ariane 6 flew for the first time with four boosters and also the more powerful P160C rocket motors adding over 9% more propellant per booster.