P160C fires up successfully, a new chapter for Ariane 6 and Vega Launchers
24.04.2025
The P160C qualification motor was successfully tested on 24 April 2025 at the European Spaceport in French Guiana, on the solid-propellant booster test stand (BEAP) operated by the French Space Agency (CNES). The successful test firing of the first P160C motor is a major milestone in the development of the future upgrades of Europe’s Ariane 6 and Vega C launchers.
The hot-fire test of the P160C, an upgrade of the P120C motor currently fitted to European launchers Ariane 6 and Vega C, was run successfully by CNES at the European Spaceport in French Guiana.
Developed jointly by ArianeGroup and Avio through their 50/50 joint-venture Europropulsion, the P160C is one of the world’s largest carbon-fiber one-piece solid fuel booster. It contains 157 tons of propellant. The P160C development programme is managed and funded by the European Space Agency.
This new motor has an increased capacity of solid propellant compared to current Ariane 6 and Vega C and thus increases launcher performance significantly.
The new P160C motor is a shared building block to the two European launchers and will be installed as Ariane 6 boosters, as well as Vega C first stages.
