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SPACE TRANSPORTATION
Space transportation is evolving rapidly to meet the future needs of space exploration and use. From Ariane 6, the heavy-lift launcher securing Europe’s access to space, to Maia, the future reusable mini-launcher designed to serve the growing small-payload market, ArianeGroup delivers high-performance, competitive and sustainable solutions. With SyLEx, its new suborbital sounding-rocket launch system, ArianeGroup is expanding its offering into in-flight testing and providing civil and defence customers with a flexible, sovereign capability for testing equipment, demonstrators and microgravity experiments.
Ariane 6: a versatile launch solution for Europe
Ariane 6, designed and built by ArianeGroup under a European Space Agency (ESA) programme, will ensure Europe’s independent, reliable access to space. With its two models, Ariane 62 and Ariane 64, the new launcher is the answer to the whole range of customer demands. It draws on the experience gained with Ariane 5 to guarantee exceptional reliability and precision. Ariane 6 is designed for high launch rates, and has the capacity to adapt to the most complex missions, including the deployment of large constellations in several orbits.
Maia: the reusable and eco-responsible mini-launcher
Maia is Europe’s first reusable and eco-responsible mini-launcher. It is being developed by MaiaSpace, an ArianeGroup subsidiary. Incorporating vertical landing on an offshore barge, Maia offers competitive, responsive space mobility solutions, and is developing reuse technologies in Europe. Based on an Agile® approach, combining flexibility, responsibility and sustainability, the reusable Maia version is capable of placing up to 500 kg in orbit. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2026.
SyLEx – Sounding-rocket lanch system
SyLEX – short for Système de Lancement d’EXpériences (Experiment Launch System) – is a suborbital launch service dedicated to in-flight testing. It enables field testing of avionics equipment, atmospheric re-entry demonstrators and microgravity experiments. Designed to meet the needs of both civil and military customers, particularly in the European market, SyLEX® combines technological sovereignty with operational excellence.
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