ESA's space transportation fleet from 2026, from left: Vega-C, a two-booster Ariane 6 and four-booster P160C-based Ariane 6, and Space Rider. Ariane and Vega rockets lift off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Vega-C is the second generation smaller launcher that increases performance to 3.3 t to low Earth orbit without increaseing launch service and operating costs.

The heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket has a modular architecture and can be launched with two or four boosters, depending on the performance required. Both Vega-C and Ariane 6 rockets use the P120C solid-propellant boosters.

Space Rider is an uncrewed robotic laboratory about the size of two minivans. After launch on Vega-C it will stay in low orbit for about two months. Experiments inside its cargo bay will allow technology demonstration and benefit research in pharmaceutics, biomedicine, biology and physical science. At the end of its mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with its payloads and land on a runway to be unloaded and refurbished for another flight.

Without rockets, there’s no space travel. No view of our Pale Blue Dot seen from deep space or our changing climate and planet seen from orbit. No samples from asteroids, no chance of deflecting them. No planetary flybys. No astronauts. No future on Mars or the Moon. No future in space. ESA’s Space Transportation Directorate is both at the forefront of space exploration and behind the scenes investing in and supporting European business, academia and institutions, so that all Europeans continue to learn about and benefit from the cosmos.