More power: first Ariane 6 with four boosters lifts off
The Dawn of a New Era: Ariane 6 with Four Boosters Takes to the Skies
In a historic moment for European space exploration, the Ariane 6 rocket, operated by Arianespace, successfully lifted off from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on February 12, 2026, with four powerful P120C boosters. This inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 with four boosters, known as Ariane 64, marked a significant milestone in the development of Europe's heavy-lift launch capability, demonstrating the rocket's ability to transport payloads to low-Earth orbit with unprecedented power.
Unprecedented Ariane Power
The Ariane 6 rocket, designed and built by ArianeGroup, is a three-stage launch vehicle that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each mission. With the addition of four P120C boosters, the rocket's performance is significantly enhanced, propelling it to a whole new class of rockets. The P120C boosters, one of the most powerful one-piece motors in production, provide an additional 14 tonnes of solid fuel, increasing the rocket's payload capacity by more than 50%.
Mobile Hangar Reveals First Ariane 6 with Four Boosters on the Launch Pad
The Ariane 6 in its four-booster configuration, Ariane 64, is the most powerful version of the rocket yet, with a total liftoff mass of 813 tonnes. The rocket's fairing, which shields the payload from the harsh surrounding environment, is 20 meters tall, making Ariane 64 the tallest Ariane 6 ever built. With its four boosters, Ariane 64 can take around 21.6 tonnes to low Earth orbit, more than double the 10.3 tonnes it could bring to orbit with just two boosters.
Housing 32 Amazon Leo Satellites, a New Record for Ariane 6
The Ariane 6 with four boosters carried 32 satellites for Amazon's Leo constellation to low-Earth orbit, a new record for the rocket. The satellites were deployed from the upper stage of the rocket, which was equipped with an auxiliary propulsion unit. This allowed for a quick deployment of the satellites, with separation occurring less than two hours after liftoff. The upper stage was then fired a third time to ensure a safe deorbit and adhere to the zero debris approach.
Ariane 6 Infographic: At a Glance
The Ariane 6 with four boosters is a significant milestone in the development of Europe's heavy-lift launch capability. With its unprecedented power and payload capacity, the rocket is poised to play a major role in the launch of future missions, including the launch of the planet-hunter Plato.
"With the powerful roar of four boosters at liftoff, comes more than double the payload mass to orbit," says ESA's Director General Josef Aschbacher. "Setting Europe back on stage for launching all satellites to all orbits. With today's launch our rocket fleet is now complete, but we will not rest. Upgrades are already in progress for future launches, starting with the launch of our planet-hunter Plato that is set to launch on an upgraded Ariane 6."
First Ariane 6 with Four Boosters Launched
The development of the Ariane 6 is a prime example of European cooperation, with the European Space Agency working with an industrial network in 13 European countries, led by prime contractor and design authority ArianeGroup. French space agency CNES manages the range operations at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Arianespace is the launch service provider.
Next Steps: Ariane 6 Evolutions
In the near future, the P120C boosters will be replaced by upgraded P160C models. Tested on April 24, 2025, the P160C motor was qualified on the solid-propellant booster test stand operated by the French Space Agency CNES. The new motor is developed jointly by ArianeGroup and Avio through their joint venture Europropulsion. The P160C motor is one meter longer than the P120C and carries over 14 tonnes more solid fuel, increasing considerably Ariane 6 and Vega performance, payload capacity, and competitiveness.
Conclusion
The Ariane 6 with four boosters is a significant milestone in the development of Europe's heavy-lift launch capability. With its unprecedented power and payload capacity, the rocket is poised to play a major role in the launch of future missions, including the launch of the planet-hunter Plato. The development of the Ariane 6 is a prime example of European cooperation, with the European Space Agency working with an industrial network in 13 European countries. As the rocket continues to evolve, it will play a major role in the launch of future missions, including the launch of the planet-hunter Plato.
