Europe aims to reduce its dependence on SpaceX with the launch of Ariane 6 today.

      Europe’s space launch sector is poised to resume operations today. Arianespace’s heavy rocket, Ariane 6, is set to launch at 16:24 GMT (17:24 CET) from the European spaceport located in French Guiana.

      Initially planned for December, the Ariane 6 mission faced delays first to February 26 and then to March 3 due to challenges in transporting the satellite to the launchpad. However, just moments before Monday’s planned launch, engineers detected an "anomaly" in one of the refueling pipes, resulting in another postponement.

      If today’s effort succeeds, it will be the inaugural commercial launch for Ariane 6. The heavy-lift rocket completed its first flight in July of last year, reestablishing Europe’s sovereign access to space.

      Ariane 6 is tasked with delivering CSO-3, a French military reconnaissance satellite that can capture high-resolution images of the Earth. This satellite is the last component of a three-satellite system aimed at enhancing France’s capacity to monitor global activities from orbit. The initial two satellites were launched aboard Russian Soyuz rockets in 2018 and 2020.

      Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Moscow in 2022, Europe has been unable to utilize Soyuz rockets. Additionally, the retirement of the Ariane 5 in 2023 and delays with the new Vega-C small-launch rocket left Europe without independent space access and relying on Elon Musk's SpaceX for over a year.

      In 2023, Europe managed only three successful orbital launches — the lowest number since 2004, while the United States achieved 109, a record for a single nation. Yet, with Ariane 6 now operational and Vega-C having launched in December, Europe’s prospects in space are improving. Moreover, private-funded missions are also progressing.

      German startup Isar Aerospace is preparing to launch Europe’s first privately-funded rocket into orbit from Norway's Andøya Spaceport, contingent on regulatory approval. Isar is among several startups, including PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg, working to offer local alternatives to SpaceX. Both companies are also planning to launch for the first time this year.

      The advancement of European rocket startups, as well as established companies like Arianespace and Avio (the developer of Vega-C), comes at a crucial time. European nations have long aimed to bolster their security autonomy, a goal that has gained urgency in light of the shifting relations with Russia during the Trump administration.

      However, Europe may not entirely replace SpaceX, as Ariane 6, unlike SpaceX rockets, is not designed for reuse. While Europe is nurturing private firms developing reusable, light-lift rockets, a reusable heavy-lift option is unlikely to be available until the 2030s, when a successor to Ariane 6 may be developed.

      Still, while not a comprehensive solution for Europe’s space autonomy, the enhancement of local capabilities is promising for the region's broader space technology industry. “The increased access [to space] will no doubt accelerate the pace of innovation and deployment of new space technologies in Europe,” stated Mark Boggett, CEO of investment firm Seraphim Space, in a previous interview.

      This progress could also lead to substantial financial gains. McKinsey and the World Economic Forum project that the global space economy will grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035.