Launch vehicles

ARCHIVE CONTENT: 29 JAN. 2024

Everything rockets

As the USA and the Soviet Union first launched satellites into orbit in the late 1950s, Europe's space programme also began to take shape. Today, still, at the heart of ...

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[ Space Transportation ]

13 FEB. 2004

Our strategy

It is more than 50 years since a group of European governments decided that Europe needed guaranteed and autonomous access to space, and that it made sense to combine their efforts to achieve this goal.

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[ Europe's Spaceport ]

Europe's Spaceport

Europe's gateway to space, French Guiana

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[ Ariane ]

Ariane

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Vega-C blueprint

Ariane 6 blueprint

Vega-C overview infographic

Ariane 6 infographic: at a glance

ESA’s Vega-C succeeds Vega, to deliver more performance, greater payload volume and better competitiveness. Operating from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, this rocket extends Europe’s autonomy in space by offering new mission possibilities, including return-to-Earth operations with ESA's reusable Space Rider spacecraft. Vega-C features major enhancements including two new solid propulsion stages, an higher-rated upper stage, new fairing, and new ground infrastructure.