Ariane 6 Flight 263 – mission successful

On 6 March 2025, Ariane 6, operated by Arianespace, lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana carrying the CSO-3 satellite on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French space agency (CNES), for the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE).

For this first commercial mission, the Ariane 6 rocket was in the two-booster Ariane 62 configuration with a short fairing.

This mission VA263 marks the beginning of the new European heavy-lift launcher’s commercial operations.

Ariane 6 is a programme developed within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA). As lead contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup is responsible for development and production together with its industrial partners. Ariane 6 is marketed and operated by Arianespace as of this first commercial flight.

More information: Press release