Ariane 6 success restores European access to space

Consortium successfully launches rocket after repeated delays, ending reliance on foreign powers

Europe has restored its independent access to space, sector leaders said after they successfully launched the continent’s new Ariane 6 rocket for the first time.

Ariane 6 was launched from Europe’s space port in French Guiana on 9 July following years of delays and with another European space vehicle, Vega-C, having been sidelined by technical faults.