Ariane 6, Europe’s long-awaited launch vehicle, makes maiden flight Long-awaited, the Ariane 6 lifted off on its maiden flight Tuesday, bearing fruit for a development program that cost more than $4 billion.Credit: ESA Ariane 6, the launch vehicle designed to ensure the European Space Agency'... Thank you for your interest in The Space Report! The content you are trying to access is available for FREE, but you must register for a Free Account first. Register for a Free Account Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password