# ESA reportedly shelves Ariane 6 Block 3 upgrades

_Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 5:40 PM EDT · Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![ESA reportedly shelves Ariane 6 Block 3 upgrades — Primary](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GlYHDKoWQAAxQiG-1152x648.jpg)

European Spaceflight reported that the European Space Agency has shelved the planned Block 3 upgrades for Ariane 6. The canceled evolution included the lightweight, carbon-composite ICARUS upper stage and had implications for ESA science missions, including a proposed probe to Enceladus. Ariane 6 has launched eight missions safely since its debut, but the report says the funding decision reflects concern about the rocket's high costs.

## Sources

- [Ars Technica - All content](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/08/europe-cancels-planned-upgrades-for-ariane-6-rocket/)

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Retrieved: 2026-08-21T04:07:39.417Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)