Tag: Ariane 6
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Turbopump Anomaly Cuts Ariane 6’s 2026 Launch Target to as Few as Six Flights
A turbopump anomaly discovered in August will prevent Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket from completing its planned eight missions in 2026, with the annual total potentially falling to six, according to industry officials. The disruption comes as Arianespace and ArianeGroup attempt to raise the vehicle’s flight rate toward an initial operational cadence of nine to ten…
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Ariane 6 Delivers MTG-I2 Weather Satellite on First Geostationary Mission, Expanding Europe’s Next-Generation Forecasting Network
Europe’s Ariane 6 launcher successfully placed the Meteosat Third Generation Imager-2 (MTG-I2) weather satellite into its intended transfer orbit on Aug. 27, marking the rocket’s first mission to a geostationary destination and a major milestone for both the Ariane 6 program and Europe’s next-generation meteorological infrastructure. The launch took place from the ELA-4 pad at…
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ESA Shelves Ariane 6 Block 3 Upgrade Plans as Europe Prioritizes Launch Cadence and Near-Term Competitiveness
The European Space Agency (ESA) has shelved plans for the Ariane 6 Block 3 upgrade, marking a significant shift in Europe’s launch strategy as officials focus resources on increasing Ariane 6 production and flight rates rather than pursuing a major performance enhancement program. The decision effectively pauses one of the most ambitious future evolutions of…
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EO Satellites Beat Telecom in European Space Sales
Has Earth Observation Displaced Telecom as Europe’s Top Space Revenue Segment? Yes — and by a measurable margin. Earth observation satellite manufacturing sales surpassed telecommunications systems by 24% in 2025, according to Eurospace’s latest Facts and Figures report, presented July 7 in Milan. The shift marks the end of telecom’s historical dominance as the primary…
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Beyond Gravity Wins 27-Fairing Ariane 6 Contract
Does Beyond Gravity’s Ariane 6 Fairing Deal Signal a Real European Launch Ramp-Up? Beyond Gravity has secured a contract with ArianeGroup to supply 27 payload fairings for Ariane 6 flight models 16 through 42 — the largest deal in the history of the Swiss company’s launch vehicle business, announced July 8, 2026. The contract covers…
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ESA and European Commission Expand Flight Ticket Initiative for European Launchers
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) have launched a new call for proposals under the European Flight Ticket Initiative, expanding opportunities for European launch providers to compete for institutional launch contracts. The two-part call invites European launcher developers to apply for framework contracts while also opening competition for the fifth batch…
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OHB Targets Up to €510 Million Capital Raise to Expand Space Manufacturing
German space technology company OHB is seeking to raise up to €510.7 million through a share offering to support the expansion of its manufacturing capacity and fund investments in launch systems, acquisitions and future space projects. The company said it plans to issue approximately 1.7 million new shares priced at €300 each, with proceeds primarily…
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Katalyst Space Raises $12 Million to Advance GEO Satellite Servicing Vehicle
Katalyst Space has secured $12 million in new funding to support the development of its first geostationary orbit (GEO)-capable robotic servicing spacecraft, NEXUS, which is scheduled to launch aboard an Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket in 2027. The funding round was led by Geodesic Capital, with participation from Fortitude Ventures and several undisclosed investors. The capital…
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Arianespace launches its heaviest payload to date with Amazon Leo flight
An Arianespace Ariane 64 rocket lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to begin the Leo Europe 03 mission for Amazon Leo. This mission carried 36 broadband satellites onboard, the heaviest payload launched by an Ariane launcher. Image: ESA-CNES-Arianespace-ArianeGroup Optique Vidéo de CSG – T Leduc Update June 17, 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 UTC):…
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Launch Preview: 10 launches scheduled from sites across the world
A very busy launch manifest is expected in the upcoming week, with 10 launches scheduled from various sites across the world. Falcon 9 is expected to launch five of the 10 launches this week, with two Starlink missions, a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, a mission for AST SpaceMobile, and a demo of the…