With the highly successful series of Ariane launchers, Europe has been able to benefit from independent access to space since 1979.

Modern life is increasingly dependent on services that rely on space-based technologies: Global communications, television, weather forecasts, Earth observation, positioning and navigation systems, security, prevention and management of natural and man-made disasters, have become part of our daily lives. These all require reliable, high-performance launch systems.

In this image Ariane 5 launches XMM-Newton, the biggest science satellite ever built in Europe, marking the first Ariane 5 commercial flight. December 1999.