Launchers - Ariane

Ariane rockets flying from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana have over five decades demonstrated the power of multinational co-operation. Through 117 missions, Ariane 5 ensured Europe’s independent access to space. Ariane 6 continues this adventure.

With its inaugural launch in 1979, ESA’s Ariane programme established Europe’s independent access to space for institutional, scientific and commercial missions. As the size of satellites grew, Ariane 1 gave way to the more powerful versions 2, 3, and 4. From 1996, Ariane 5 served as one of the world's premier heavy-lift rockets, orbiting single or multiple payloads and sending a series of iconic scientific missions to deep space. Ariane 6 adds a further dimension of versatility and cost-efficiency.