Airbus Safran Launchers has just finalised the first design phase for Ariane 6, successfully confirming the maturity of the future European launcher, for which the maiden flight is scheduled for 2020. This first design review, called "Maturity Gate 5", enables Airbus Safran Launchers to confirm performance, schedule and operating costs.

This successful design review is a major milestone in the validation process of the Ariane 6 programme under contract from the European Space Agency (ESA). It enables Airbus Safran Launchers to validate all of the Ariane 6 technical, industrial and programming characteristics.

Its conclusions were presented to ESA on 10th June.

Thanks to the success of this step, Airbus Safran Launchers and all its European industrial partners are now continuing with launcher development at the planned rate.

Alain Charmeau, CEO of Airbus Safran Launchers, stated: "This success confirms all our undertakings to the European Space Agency and its Member States, and means that we can make a firm budget commitment to the development and production of Ariane 6, for which the maiden flight is confirmed for 2020".

This review was validated under the responsibility of Airbus Safran Launchers and involved representatives from ESA, CNES, DLR and ASI as well as independent experts.

This "Maturity Gate 5" review began on 28th April 2016, less than 9 months after the development contract was signed with ESA on 12th August 2015. It follows finalisation of the design of the future European launcher and the deployment of its industrial organisation with all the industrial partners, in the form of an "extended enterprise".

Ariane 6 will be a flexible, modular and competitive launcher, offering two versions, Ariane 62 and Ariane 64, in order to guarantee continued European access to space.