The Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force consists of top management of ESA, as the overall Ariane 6 procuring entity and launch system architect, of the French space agency CNES as the launch base prime contractor, of ArianeGroup as the launcher system prime contractor and of Arianespace as the launch service provider. This group reports regularly on the new Ariane 6 launcher. Key milestones since inaugural flight: These milestones have been conducted since the last joint update: 9 July: launch of Ariane 6, Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana The first launch of Ariane 6 occurred on 9 July 2024 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, completing its mission of releasing several varied satellites into a circular Earth orbit and restoring Europe’s independent access to space while demonstrating the versatility of the Ariane 6 upper stage, with two successful ignitions of the Vinci engine. August: finished first investigations into inaugural flight profile Analysis of the flight data confirms the excellent behaviour and performances of the launch vehicle with a very limited number of deviations compared to predictions. A few unexpected behaviours of the whole launch system were recorded during the technology demonstration phase of the mission. Their initial analysis is now complete. After the successful first flight there are no showstoppers for the second Ariane 6 mission. The investigations included analysing why re-ignition of the upper stage Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU) did not occur as planned at the beginning of the long coasting phase of Ariane 6’s inaugural mission. Analysis shows that one temperature measurement exceeded a pre-defined limit and that the flight software correctly triggered a shut down, entering the long coasting phase without the APU thrust and so degrading the proceeding of the demo phase. As a consequence, the third ignition sequence of the Vinci engine was not ordered by the flight software. The upper stage was passivated as expected. Based on the observed behaviour of the APU in flight, the ignition preparation sequence (APU chill-down sequence) will be changed in the flight software to improve ignition conditions and solve the identified anomaly. The updated software is already being tested to be applied on the coming flights. Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.

Arianespace announces the appointment of Caroline Arnoux as Head of the Ariane Business Unit. She will also be overseeing Vega operations up to flight VV29. Caroline Arnoux joins the company’s Executive Committee. After being renewed in 2024, the Executive Committee of Arianespace now has eight members, with the same number of women as men, representing four nationalities. Arianespace announces the appointment of Caroline Arnoux as Head of the Ariane Business Unit (BU). She therefore joins the company’s Executive Committee. Caroline Arnoux began her career with Arianespace in 1996 after graduating from École Polytechnique and ISAE-SUPAERO. With 28 years of experience, her passion for space and her professional achievements have led her to hold several strategic positions at the company’s headquarters and at the Guiana Space Center (CSG). She notably held positions of responsibility in the sales directorate, before heading up the preparation and launch of the Vega program from 2009 to 2015. In 2016, Caroline Arnoux was named Head of the Ariane 6 Business Line, within the Ariane 5, Ariane 6 and Soyuz Business Unit. Following the retirement of François Barreau, she is now joining Arianespace’s Executive Committee, as Head of the Ariane BU. She will also be overseeing the end of Arianespace’s exploitation of the Vega C launcher, a role in which she will be assisted by Fabrizio Fabiani, appointed Head of the Vega program at Arianespace. Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said: “I am delighted to welcome Caroline Arnoux to our Executive Committee: her strategic vision and unfailing commitment to Arianespace are proof of her expertise, which will be vital in supporting the ramp-up of Ariane 6, in close collaboration with ArianeGroup. Caroline will also be using her skills to organize a successful transition with Avio and ESA for Vega C in our customers’ best interests.” Arianespace’s Executive Committee now comprises: Stéphane Israël (Chief Executive Officer),Caroline Arnoux (Head of the Ariane Business Unit),Michel Doubovick (Chief Financial Officer),Claudia Flöte (Chief Operating Officer),Maëla Guyomarc’h (Chief Human Resources Officer),                                                                                                        Julie Lenoir (Chief Brand and Communications Officer),Steven Rutgers (Chief Commercial and Business Development Officer),Pierre-Yves Tissier (Chief Technical and Quality Officer).