Europe moves to cut SpaceX reliance with Ariane 6 launch
Get the Full StoryEurope s space launch industry reopened for business today when the Ariane 6 heavy rocket lifted off at 17:24 CET from a spaceport in French Guiana. Originally scheduled for December, the Ariane 6 mission was delayed first to February 26 and subsequently to March 3 due to issues in transporting the satellite to the launchpad. However, just minutes before Monday s launch, engineers identified an anomaly in one of the refuelling pipes, postponing the launch further. Finally, Ariane 6 had its first successful commercial launch today. The milestone came seven months after the rocket s maiden flight, which restored sovereign access to space for Europe. This story continues at The Next WebOr just read more coverage about: SpaceXShare: