Tomorrow is the last launch of Ariane 5, which has flown 116 missions into space since 1996

Arianespace is preparing for the latest launch of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket. It is expected to get a successor as early as this year.

Here's What We Know

Ariane 5 will make its last flight on June 16, 2023. The rocket will launch from a spaceport in French Guiana. It will orbit a military communications satellite and an experimental spacecraft belonging to Germany.

Ariane 5 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle that can carry up to 10.5 tonnes of payload into orbit. It first flew into space in 1996. Since then, the rocket has flown 116 missions. Tomorrow's launch will therefore be its 117th.

Arianespace is expected to make its maiden launch of Ariane 6 as early as this year. The next-generation rocket should have been launched three years ago, but development difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement.