PARIS, Sept 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A European-made rocket has blasted off
from French Guiana for the 100th time, in a symbolic landmark for its
manufacturer as it comes under increasing pressure from Elon Musk’s SpaceX
programme.
The Ariane 5 spacecraft took off from the Caribbean launch site on Tuesday
at 19:38 (22:38 GMT), propelling two telecoms satellites into orbit. In
service for more than two decades and capable of blasting heavy payloads into
the sky, the Ariane 5 has become the workhorse of European space launches
under the guidance of the European Space Agency (ESA).
But it will soon be replaced by an updated model, the Ariane 6, which will
be an estimated 40 percent cheaper to make.
This is partly in response to SpaceX’s arrival on the commercial space
flight scene, with its reusable Falcon 9 rocket holding the potential to
undercut rival programmes.
SpaceX has outpaced European manufacturer Arianespace in terms of number of
launches for two straight years.
“We are having to face unprecedented competition,” Arianespace head
Stephane Israel told AFP.
Since it was first launched in 1996, the Ariane 5 has put 205 satellites
into orbit including for Europe’s Galileo GPS system.