CNN —The European Space Agency’s member countries have endured a space access predicament as they have waited to have a functioning rocket in their toolbox. Europe’s Vega-C rocket, designed for vaulting small satellites to orbit, has also been grounded since a December 2022 failure. Spectators watch the takeoff of the Ariane 6 rocket from its launchpad at the Guiana Space Center on Tuesday. The Ariane 6 rocket is seen prior to its maiden launch at the Guiana Space Center on Tuesday. Jody Amiet/AFP/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, the rocket took off on its inaugural test flight hauling small satellites, experiments and technology demonstrations.

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Persons: Safran, Europe’s Vega, Jody Amiet, Josef Aschbacher, “, ” Aschbacher, it’s Organizations: CNN, Guiana Space Center, ESA, SpaceX, Arianespace, Airbus, Getty, European Organisation Locations: Kourou, French Guiana, South, France, ArianeGroup, AFP, Elon Musk’s California, Europe, Nemo