Finally, Europe has regained independent access to space. The continent reestablished a sovereign launch capacity on Tuesday with the maiden flight of the Ariane 6 rocket. Built to take satellites into orbit, Ariane 6 lifted off from the European Spaceport in French Guiana at 4:00PM local time (9:00PM CEST). The rocket is now ascending into the cosmos to deliver a payload of satellites and experiments. Ariane 6’s upper stage will then burn up to reduce space trash. The demonstration mission aims to prove the launcher’s capabilities. It can also close a dismal chapter for the European Space Agency (ESA). Since…
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