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The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that the inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 rocket is now projected for 2024. Previous updates had suggested a tight timeline for a 2023 launch. In July, a series of tests achieved 90% of their objectives, but the short hot fire test on the Vulcain 2.1 engine could not be performed. A new test will be conducted on August 29 after the necessary reconfiguration of the ground system.

To provide further updates, ESA has planned a press briefing on September 4 regarding the upper stage hot firing test 3, which is scheduled for September 1 in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Following this, a long firing test of the core stage and the Vulcain 2.1 engine is tentatively scheduled for September 26 in Kourou.

This delay in the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket leaves Europe with a gap in heavy-lift launch capacity as the Ariane 5 rocket completed its final mission in July. Throughout its service, the Ariane 5 rocket successfully deployed a total of 239 satellites, including 197 satellites into Geostationary Orbit (GEO).

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