This article is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Jun 25, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
ESA is considering a higher build and flight rate for the Ariane 6 rocket.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is assessing the feasibility of hiking the launch cadence for the Ariane 6 rocket to as many as 20 flights per year to address an anticipated shortage of European launch capacity in a few years.
“We are looking at 12, 15 and 20 as different scenarios,” ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told reporters June 17 after the agency’s latest council meeting. Europe currently targets 10 launches as a maximum.
CEO of launch service operator Arianespace, David Cavaillolès, said the demand to launch big constellations could necessitate a higher launch pace for Europe's biggest rocket. The company previously indicated solid rocket motor capacity was a bottleneck to going higher, suggesting investment would be needed.
Aschbacher said the options now under review come with different costs and implementation timelines.
ESA also is looking at a higher flight pace for the medium-lift Avio Vega-C.
“On the ESA side, we expect clarity, certainly before the end of this year,” Aschbacher said.
Related Content
