Paris – Europe's newest and most powerful rocket, Ariane 6, made its inaugural flight on Tuesday, successfully launching satellites into orbit and reestablishing the continent's autonomous access to space. This achievement marks a significant milestone for European space efforts, which have faced setbacks and delays in recent years.
The launch took place at 4 pm local time (1900 GMT) from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, after a brief one-hour delay due to a minor technical issue. Despite clear skies and a smooth liftoff, the mission encountered a slight deviation from its planned trajectory towards the end, affecting the rocket's re-entry and Pacific Ocean landing. However, this did not overshadow the primary objective of satellite deployment.
