Arianespace, the European space launch company, anticipates launching its first Ariane 6 rocket by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, with plans to reach a full operational capacity of nine to 11 launches annually by 2026, according to the company’s CEO. Arianespace, in competition with SpaceX, is majority-owned by a joint venture of Airbus and Safran. The delayed Ariane 6 program has secured 29 launches, 18 of which are designated for an Amazon.com initiative aimed at providing broadband internet services.

Amazon is set to become a customer for the Ariane 6 Block II, an enhanced version of the rocket expected to receive approval for development funding at an upcoming European Space Agency ministerial meeting. The Block II is slated to become operational in the second half of 2025, demonstrating Arianespace’s ongoing commitment to improving its rocket technology.

Developed at a cost of nearly 4 billion euros ($4.15 billion), the Ariane 6 project faced delays due to design enhancements, the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce and suppliers, as well as technical challenges. Arianespace plans to conduct four to five Ariane 6 launches in 2024, followed by eight in 2025, gradually increasing to the full planned rate of nine to 11 launches per year in 2026, with the possibility of further adjustments based on demand.

CEO Stephane Israel expressed openness to considering an increased launch cadence in 2026 or 2027, contingent on a viable business case. Additionally, Arianespace is poised to contribute to the deployment of a 6-billion-euro satellite internet system led by the European Union to reduce dependency on foreign companies and address geopolitical concerns arising from the Ukraine conflict. The deployment could involve utilizing both the Ariane 6 and the smaller Vega C rocket, also operated by Arianespace.