Will Europe's Latest Heavy Lift Rocket Take On Elon Musk's SpaceX?

Ariane-6 will be launched from the European spaceport located in French Guiana, South America - on the Equator - which makes it an apt place for such launches.

Europe lost its heavy rocket launching capability nearly a year ago when the Ariane-5 - owned by the European Space Agency - retired on July 5, 2023. Its replacement - the Ariane-6 - had been in the making since at least 2014. Delayed for years, the rocket will embark on its maiden test flight at 8.30 pm tonight.

The rocket will be launched from the European spaceport located in French Guiana, South America - on the Equator - which makes it an apt place for such launches.

The Ariane-6 rocket is 63 meters tall and weighs at its heaviest configuration a whopping 860 tons.