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 Europe’s 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 Europe’s 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-fibre single-piece solid fuel boosters. 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 casolid propellant capacity compared to the current Ariane 6 and Vega C boosters and thus significantly increases launcher performance.
The new P160C motor is a shared building block for the two European launchers and will be used as boosters on Ariane 6 and first stages on Vega C.
