Ariane 6 rocket's first commercial launch on March 3
scmp.com —
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket is set for its first commercial launch on March 3, 2025. It will deploy a French military intelligence satellite from the Kourou base in French Guiana. This launch follows several delays and is significant for Europe's security autonomy. The Ariane 5 was retired in 2023, and Europe has lost access to Russia's Soyuz rocket since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ariane 6 successfully tested in July 2023 and is planned for five launches this year. The launch date was postponed from December to February 26, and then to March 3 due to satellite transport issues.