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> Ariane 6 liftoff – first with P160C-based boosters

Ariane 6 liftoff – first with P160C-based boosters

author: ESA/S.Corvaja/Novapix

reference: e-leu16-01050

Image Size 300 DPI: 28 * 42 cm

On 17 June 2026 at 09:21 local time (13:21 BST, 14:21 CEST), Ariane 6 flight VA269 soared to orbit from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 36 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation left Earth powered by four P160C-based boosters, the first time these upgraded boosters were used – making this launch the most powerful so far for Europe’s heavy-lift rocket.

Keywords for this photo:

2026 - ARIANE - ARIANE 6 - GUIANA SPACE CENTER - KOUROU - LAUNCH - LAUNCHER - ROCKET - SPACE -