The European launch vehicle Ariane 6 has set an all-time payload record for the Ariane rocket family, successfully deploying 36 communication satellites into low Earth orbit. The total weight of the cargo was nearly 20.8 metric tons. Operated by Arianespace, the rocket lifted off on Wednesday morning from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.
Ariane 6 Upgraded Boosters
The record payload was made possible by the rocket’s new configuration. For the first time, engineers used new P160C solid rocket boosters. These boosters provide increased thrust, allowing the rocket to carry an additional two metric tons of cargo to low Earth orbit. The upgrade will also expand the rocket’s capacity for launching heavy spacecraft into geostationary orbit and sending deep-space scientific missions.
Amazon LEO vs. Starlink
All 36 deployed satellites belong to the Amazon LEO program, a project aimed at building a global satellite internet constellation of more than 3,200 spacecraft. Prior to this launch, Ariane 6 carried 32 satellites per flight, but the new boosters enabled an increased payload batch. Amazon’s project faces significant competition from market leader SpaceX, whose Starlink network already operates more than 10,500 active satellites and continues to expand.
Significant Ariane 6 Mission Milestone
Each of the deployed Amazon satellites weighs approximately 578 kilograms. After liftoff, the rocket reached an altitude of 465 kilometers, where all 36 satellites successfully separated 1 hour and 51 minutes into the flight to enter their target orbits. The Ariane 6 is a relatively new rocket, having made its maiden flight in July 2024 after years of delays. This launch was the eighth in its history and the first to utilize the upgraded side boosters. This mission marks