The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Ariane 5’s powerful solid rocket booster is the largest produced in Europe generating 700 tonnes of thrust for liftoff.
Regularly test firings are made to demonstrate the motor’s capabilities and qualify improvements in design.
On 8 September a test firing at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ensured again that Ariane 5 launcher qualification, reliability and performance levels are maintained.
The test is a collaboration between ESA and France’s CNES space agency under ESA’s Launchers Exploitation Accompaniment Programme, LEAP, to guarantee independent access to space for Europe.
This video shows the test and it’s preparation. It includes interviews in French with Giorgio Mastrangelo, ARTA 6 Project Manager, Europropulsion, Vincent Favier, ARTA 6 Project Manager, CNES, Brice Santerre, ARTA 6 Project Manager, Airbus Safran Launchers and Charline Dutertre, ARTA 6 project Manager, ESA.