Ariane rockets flying from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana have over five decades demonstrated the power of multinational co-operation. Through 117 missions, Ariane 5 ensured Europe’s independent access to space. Ariane 6 continues this adventure.With its inaugural launch in 1979, ESA’s Ariane programme established Europe’s independent access to space for institutional, scientific and commercial missions. As the size of satellites grew, Ariane 1 gave way to the more powerful versions 2, 3, and 4. From 1996, Ariane 5 served as one of the world's premier heavy-lift rockets, orbiting single or multiple payloads and sending a series of iconic scientific missions to deep space. Ariane 6 adds a further dimension of versatility and cost-efficiency.