Final Launch of Ariane 5 Takes Place Amidst Rocket Crisis in Europe

Europe’s reliable and longstanding Ariane 5 rocket accelerated into the skies for its final mission, bidding farewell after 27 years of successful launches. However, this farewell comes at a challenging time for European space efforts, as the continent faces increased global competition and a lack of independent heavy mission launch capabilities.

The delays in the development of the next-generation Ariane 6 rocket, along with Russia’s withdrawal of its rocket support, have left Europe without a means to launch heavy missions into space independently. The 117th and last flight of the Ariane 5 rocket took place on Wednesday from Kourou, French Guiana, after being postponed twice due to technical issues and bad weather.

The successful final launch of the Ariane 5 rocket was a bittersweet moment, filled with emotion for the teams in Kourou who have been involved in its launches for nearly three decades. The rocket’s payload for its grand finale included a French military communications satellite and a German communications satellite.

The Ariane 5 rocket had a challenging start, with its maiden flight ending in an explosion shortly after liftoff in 1996. Another failure occurred in 2002, leaving a lasting impression on the engineers involved. However, the rocket went on to achieve a long series of successful launches, earning a reputation for reliability.

A notable testament to Ariane 5’s reliability is its role in launching the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope in late 2021, which demonstrates NASA’s trust in the rocket’s capabilities. Additionally, the rocket’s second-last launch was the European Space Agency’s Juice spacecraft, tasked with investigating the potential for alien life on Jupiter’s icy moons.

The Ariane 5 rocket has played a vital role in Europe’s space activities, providing Europe with a competitive advantage in the communication satellite market. However, the delays in the development of the Ariane 6 have left Europe reliant on Russia’s Soyuz rockets for heavy-load missions. Unfortunately, Russia’s withdrawal of space cooperation with Europe following the Ukraine conflict has further added to Europe’s challenges.

As Europe faces difficult times in the launcher market, the US-based SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has dominated with its frequent rocket launches. In the absence of other options, the ESA has resorted to using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for certain missions, highlighting the need for Europe to regain its independent launch capabilities.

In an effort to regain independence, Europe is eagerly awaiting the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket, which promises improved capabilities and efficiency. Although the first launch of Ariane 6 was originally scheduled for 2020, it has faced delays. Ariane 6 will require fewer resources for maintenance and operation, leading to job cuts at the Kourou spaceport.

Despite the current challenges, European space agencies are working diligently to overcome the difficulties and prepare for the future. While Europe’s launcher market undergoes significant changes, the legacy of Ariane 5 will be remembered as a reliable and successful workhorse of Europe’s space activities.

© 2023 AFP

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