Ariane 6, Europe's New Heavy-Lift Rocket, Launches into Space
Europe's long-awaited Ariane 6 rocket has successfully completed its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
The Ariane 6, a heavy-lift launch system developed by Arianespace, is the successor to the Ariane 5, which flew 117 orbital missions from 1996 to 2023.
Like its predecessor, the Ariane 6 will launch near the Equator, taking advantage of the boost from Earth's rotation to reach space. The delays in the Ariane 6's development meant that it did not overlap with the Ariane 5, which flew its final voyage in July 2023.
The Ariane 6 is intended to compete with rockets from other countries such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 and the Chinese Long March series. The European launch industry has struggled in recent years due to the increasing competition from these companies.
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