ESA has postponed the first launch of Europe's Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket to 2024 - Europe continues to be without independent access to orbit

The European Space Agency (ESA) has postponed the first launch of the Ariane 6 rocket. This means that Europe still does not have independent access to Earth orbit.

Here's What We Know

Ariane 6 is Europe's heavy-lift launch vehicle, which still has no way to replace Ariane 5, which made its last (117th) flight a few weeks ago. COVID-19 and development difficulties have meant that Ariane 6 has not been put into service until now, although it was scheduled to do so in 2020.

Due to the latest Ariane 5 launch and the Vega-C failure, Europe is left without independent access to Earth orbit. ESA wants authorisation so that the US company SpaceX can launch European cargo into space.

The exact date of the first Ariane 6 launch is not yet available. However, it will definitely not take place in 2023. ESA has postponed the debut launch to 2024. The timing will be clarified after the firing tests, the results of which will be announced on 26 September 2023. This was announced by Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.

Source: @arianespaceceo