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Europe Cancels Planned Upgrades for Ariane 6 Rocket
Arianespace has not publicly disclosed the cost for an Ariane 6 launch.
TL;DR
- The Ariane 6 rocket has successfully launched eight missions in its two years of operation.
- Upgrades for the Ariane 6, known as "Block 3," including a lightweight ICARUS upper stage, have been canceled.
- The cancellation impacts European Space Agency science missions, such as a probe to Saturn's moon Enceladus.
- High costs and the need for significant government subsidies per launch are clouding the Ariane 6's future.
- European ministers are deciding whether to scale up production or invest in a next-generation reusable rocket.
- Arianespace has a contract with Amazon for 18 launches of its Amazon Leo constellation.