Europe’s armed forces regain in-house space access with Ariane 6 launch

Europe restored sovereign access to space with the first launch of the Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket on Tuesday. The launch had been delayed, leaving the continent without guaranteed access to orbit. The all-new Ariane 6 launched from French Guiana for a validation flight, carrying scientific experiments and testing equipment. The next flight planned for December will carry CSO-3, a French military-surveillance satellite.
The lack of autonomous access to space was a significant concern, leaving Europe unable to launch satellites crucial for armed forces. The retired rocket Ariane 5 played a vital role in placing military communications systems for major European states. The new Ariane 6 rocket has an order book for 30 launches, with about a third of missions serving government customers, including the military.
Military or dual-use satellites launched on foreign rockets raise security concerns and expose Europe to price competition from foreign competitors. ESA is working on a reusable rocket engine to reduce costs. To achieve strategic autonomy in space, European countries need to enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities and reduce reliance on the United States. Access to space is becoming increasingly essential for major military powers.