Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launches for first time

The Ariane 6 rocket blasts off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, July 9, 2024. Engineers and managers monitor the parameters of the Ariane 6 launch in The Jupiter Room at The Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, July 9, 2024.

Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket successfully blasted off for the first time on Tuesday, releasing satellites into orbit and restoring the continent's independent access to space.