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Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket successfully completed its first commercial launch on Thursday, putting a French military satellite into orbit and giving Europe independent access to space. It ushers in a new era for the European space program and strengthens the continent's position in space independence after losing access to Russian launch vehicles.
The success of the mission is of strategic importance for the European defense and space industry..
Europe's strategic independence
The launch comes at a particularly important moment as Europe seeks to strengthen its defense independence. The emergence of a new US president, Donald Trump, raises doubts about future cooperation with American partners. Own access to space is becoming a critical element of strategic autonomy.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe lost the ability to use Russian Soyuz rockets. This created serious problems, especially after the previous version of the Ariane 5 rocket was decommissioned in 2023. Now Europe can once again independently launch large satellites into orbit.
“Europe must ensure its own security”, — emphasized Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation at the European Space Agency. She noted that in the future the number of Ariane 6 launches could reach 12 per year.
Military significance of the mission
The successfully launched CSO-3 satellite completes the network of French military surveillance satellites. It is located at an altitude of about 800 kilometers above the Earth. The first two satellites of this network were launched in 2018 and 2020 using Russian rockets.
Security measures were tightened at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana as a military satellite was launched. French fighter jets patrolled the airspace around the launch site. Access to the facility was strictly restricted.
According to French General Philippe Stanger, European Union countries have only 10 military satellites. These are five French and five Italian devices. For comparison, the United States and China operate hundreds of such satellites.
Overcoming technical difficulties
The path to the first commercial launch of Ariane 6 was not easy. The rocket was originally scheduled to enter service in 2020. However, due to numerous technical problems, the first test flight did not take place until July 2024.
The first commercial launch attempt on Monday was canceled just 30 minutes before liftoff due to a fuel tube problem. Launches previously scheduled for December and February were also postponed.
Arnaud Prost, French pilot and reserve astronaut for the European Space Agency, called the successful launch of Ariane 6
The European space industry continues to face stiff competition from Elon Musk's SpaceX, an American company that has become increasingly dominant in the satellite launch market. Its role in the US space effort is expected to grow as Musk becomes a top adviser to President Trump.
