Europe’s powerful Ariane 6 rocket launches for 3rd time ever

Europe’s Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket completed its third launch on 12 August, carrying a state-of-the-art weather and climate satellite into orbit. Operated by the French firm Arianespace for the European Space Agency, Ariane 6 succeeds the recently retired Ariane 5. The rocket first flew on a test mission in July 2024, followed by its inaugural commercial flight in March 2025, which successfully delivered a French reconnaissance satellite into orbit. Olivier Sanguy, Editor in chief of Space News, joins us from Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, France.