Beyond Gravity supplies key technologies for the first flight of Ariane 64

On February 12, 2026, Ariane 64 is scheduled to lift off from the European spaceport in French Guiana. Its mission: to precisely place 32 satellites from the Amazon Leo constellation into orbit. For decades, the international space company Beyond Gravity has been one of ArianeGroup's closest industrial partners – and is also supplying key systems for this flight: from the payload fairing from Switzerland to thermal protection solutions from Austria and the high-precision dispenser system from Sweden, which will release the satellites into space. “The first flight of Ariane 64 is an important milestone for Beyond Gravity and for European spaceflight as a whole,” says Oliver Grassmann, Chief Operating Officer at Beyond Gravity. “It exemplifies our close collaboration with ArianeGroup and Amazon, as well as our contribution to the next generation of European launch systems. With this planned launch, Europe is underscoring its ambitions to build modern satellite infrastructures, and Beyond Gravity is reinforcing its role as a key supplier for complex space missions,” Oliver Grassmann continues.

Europe Takes Off – With Ariane 64

Mission LE-01 marks the start of a series of 18 planned Ariane 6 launches that Amazon has scheduled between 2026 and 2029 to build the constellation. Amazon Leo – formerly known as Project Kuiper – is Amazon's global satellite initiative to build a high-performance broadband network in low Earth orbit. The goal of the program is to provide fast and reliable internet access worldwide, especially in regions that currently have no or limited access to traditional terrestrial communication networks. To this end, a mega-constellation of over 3,000 satellites is being created, distributed across 98 orbits at three altitudes of 590, 610, and 630 kilometers. To date, more than 150 Amazon satellites are in space. The network is intended to benefit schools, hospitals, businesses, and government institutions in underserved areas and contribute to closing the digital divide in the long term.

Technology Behind Ariane 64

Ariane 6 is a versatile launch vehicle available in two versions: Ariane 62 with two boosters and Ariane 64 with four boosters. Both versions are designed for a wide range of missions and payloads in different orbits. Ariane 64 is the more powerful model in the new rocket family and uses four solid-fuel boosters to transport particularly heavy payloads. It can carry up to 11.5 tons into geostationary orbit and combines high flexibility with efficiency and re-ignitability. At the heart of the system are the Vulcain 2.1 main engine and the Vinci upper stage engine, which together ensure precise control and reliably controlled thrust during flight.

Premiere of the Payload Fairing from Emmen

Beyond Gravity supplies two versions of the payload fairing for Ariane 6. Depending on the mission, the 14-meter-long short version is used for Ariane 62, or the 20-meter-long long version for Ariane 64. With the first launch of Ariane 64, Beyond Gravity's long payload fairing will now also be used for the first time. Stefan Hofmann, Vice President Launchers Structures Switzerland at Beyond Gravity, says: "The maiden flight of the long payload fairing is a decisive step for Ariane 6 and for Beyond Gravity. It is a key component for heavy missions and underlines the leading role of our Emmen site in the development and manufacture of highly complex aerospace structures." The approximately 5.4-meter-wide and 20-meter-high structure made of carbon fiber-reinforced composite material was developed and manufactured at the Emmen site (Switzerland). It protects the satellites from extreme mechanical, thermal, and aerodynamic stresses during launch and ascent, ensures a stable environment, and gives Ariane 6 its aerodynamic shape. The two half-shells are cured in an industrial oven and are specially designed to meet the requirements of the new European launch system.

Dispenser System: Precision for 32 Satellites

With the launch of Ariane 64, Beyond Gravity's dispenser system will be used for the first time on this new European launch vehicle. The modular deployment system was developed to efficiently and precisely place multiple satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This dispenser has already been used successfully in previous missions on other launch vehicles to deploy 150 satellites in LEO constellations – proof of the system's high reliability and performance. The modular deployment system was developed in Linköping, Sweden, and forms the mechanical interface between the launch vehicle and the satellites. It ensures the precise timing and positioning of the spacecraft's separation.

Thermal Protection Systems for the Lower and Upper Stages

At its site in Berndorf (Austria), Beyond Gravity manufactures high-temperature insulation for the Vulcain 2.1 engine of the Ariane 6 main stage, including insulation components for exhaust pipes and the engine base. The materials protect against temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius. For the upper stage, the company supplies special thermal vacuum insulation solutions such as insulation tents, membranes, and conditioning bags. These ensure that electronics, gases, and systems remain within their specified temperature ranges. While liquid hydrogen and oxygen must be kept stable at temperatures as low as minus 255 degrees Celsius, the exhaust gases from the Vinci engine reach several hundred degrees Celsius. The insulation tents protect the Vinci Intermediate Thrust Frame, among other things, while conditioning bags contribute to the targeted temperature conditioning of the gases.

Gimbal Mechanism for Controlling the Upper Stage

The gimbal mechanism for the upper stage of the Ariane 6 rocket also comes from Austria. This movable joint aligns the engine precisely during flight, enabling thrust vector control. This specially developed mechanism weighs around ten kilograms yet can transmit thrust forces of up to 15 tons, which is comparable to the pulling force of a diesel locomotive.