The European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace, and French space agency CNES are in the final stretch of preparations for Ariane 6's inaugural launch.
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00:00 [Music]
00:08 Europe looks set to regain its direct access to space this summer,
00:11 with the final assembly of its new rocket Ariane 6
00:14 underway ahead of its inaugural flight.
00:17 I'm extremely excited because this is the fruit of more or less 10 years of work,
00:23 and it's a historical day today.
00:25 It's more excitement and pride for Europe
00:27 because it's the first time that we are going to see the central core of an Ariane 6 that's going to fly.
00:33 Ariane 6 was due to replace its predecessor in 2020,
00:37 but the project was beset by delays.
00:40 Without its own rocket launcher,
00:42 the European space sector has turned to external companies like SpaceX.
00:46 Some have considered the lack of direct access to space as a European crisis.
00:52 It's true that since the last launch of Ariane 5 in July last year,
00:58 we haven't had our own means to accessing space as a workhorse.
01:03 There was a war.
01:04 Unfortunately, nobody expected it.
01:06 And from one day to the next, Soyuz was no longer here.
01:10 Ariane 6 is a big issue for Europe because it will be serving all the needs,
01:15 from institutional needs of defense, telecommunications, scientific satellites,
01:20 to the commercial needs of Europe.
01:21 And of course, beyond.
01:23 As tall as the first floor of the Eiffel Tower,
01:25 the new rocket is powered by a mixture of liquid oxygen and hydrogen.
01:29 Ariane 6 will launch up to 12 times a year, carrying satellites,
01:33 aiming to become competitive enough to take on market giants like SpaceX.
01:38 There are also hopes that one day it will carry European astronauts on manned missions from EU territory.
01:46 It's first of all a political ambition.
01:48 It's up to European states to decide if they want to acquire this capacity.
01:53 So we can only say that we are ready to contribute.
01:57 We're here at the European Spaceport in French Guiana,
02:00 moments before the assembly of the new Ariane 6 rocket,
02:04 the largest launcher produced in Europe to date.
02:07 After years of delay, the Ariane 6 will face its first crucial test launch this summer,
02:12 when all eyes will be on the launch pad behind me,
02:14 as Europe looks to reassert its independence in space.
02:18 David Walsh, Euronews, French Guiana.
02:21 (whooshing)