Ariane-6: Watch new rocket blast into space on first flight

The vehicle set off from a launchpad in French Guiana on a demonstration mission.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersMoment Ariane-6 rocket blasts into space on first flightThe European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its Ariane-6 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.

Developed at a cost of €4bn (£3.4bn), Europe's new rocket set off at about 16:00 local time (19:00 GMT), restoring the continent's independent access to space.

ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said the successful launch marked a "historic day" for Europe.

Unlike some of its recent American competitors, the Ariane-6 is expendable and a new one is needed for every mission.

The rocket will take payloads into orbit more cheaply than its predecessor, Ariane-5. The ESA is expecting to make up to 11 launches a year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cw8y6x874x9o

---