The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that it is aware of delays affecting the Ariane 6 launch schedule following reports of an engine turbopump anomaly.
French news outlet La Tribune first reported an issue with an unspecified Ariane 6 component on 17 September. According to the report, the additional checks were expected to disrupt Arianespace’s planned Ariane 6 launch cadence for the remainder of 2026.
Reporting from Peter de Selding’s Space Intel Report a day later identified the component as an engine turbopump, with the anomaly reportedly discovered during ground evaluations in August. He added that the issue could result in just one or two more Ariane 6 launches this year, rather than the three or four additional missions previously planned.
ESA, which is responsible for the overall management of the Ariane 6 programme, has now confirmed that it is aware of delays affecting the rocket’s launch schedule, but has declined to comment on the root cause.
“ESA is aware of the delays,” an agency spokesperson told European Spaceflight after being asked about the reports of a technical issue being discovered.
In a statement provided to European Spaceflight, ArianeGroup and Arianespace confirmed that the 2026 mission schedule would need to be adjusted while additional checks are carried out within the Ariane 6 production line.
“The industrial ramp-up of Ariane 6 is proceeding smoothly, and the entire industrial supply chain is on track to reach the target rate of 9 to 10 launches as early as 2027,” the companies said. “However, we will need to adjust this year’s mission schedule. This is because additional checks, currently underway, need to be carried out within the Ariane 6 production line.”
They did not provide further details on the nature of the checks or confirm whether they relate to the reported turbopump anomaly.
According to Space Intel Report, officials are evaluating whether the affected turbopump can be repaired at the launch site in French Guiana or whether it will need to be replaced.
The Ariane 6 turbopumps
A turbopump is a high-speed pump that feeds liquid propellants from a rocket’s tanks into the engine’s combustion chamber. Ariane 6 is equipped with four turbopumps across its two liquid-fuel engines: the Vulcain 2.1 main-stage engine and the Vinci upper-stage engine. Each engine features one liquid oxygen turbopump and one liquid hydrogen turbopump.
Italian rocket builder Avio currently manufactures the liquid oxygen turbopumps for both engines, while ArianeGroup produces the hydrogen turbopumps. This split is, however, in the process of changing. ESA member states agreed in December 2024 to transfer responsibility for the oxygen turbopumps from Avio to ArianeGroup France, with the company’s Vernon site set to assume responsibility for producing them. This transfer has not yet been completed, with Avio continuing to produce the rocket’s liquid oxygen turbopumps.
At this time, it is not yet clear which of Ariane 6’s four turbopumps is affected by the reported anomaly.
Update: This article was updated on 21 September to include a statement from ArianeGroup and Arianespace.
