Europe Targets Space Sovereignty With Historic Ariane 64 Heavy-Lift Debut

Kourou, Wednesday, 11 February 2026.
Europe’s aerospace sector faces a defining moment this week as the Ariane 64 prepares for its maiden flight from French Guiana. This mission not only attempts to break the continent’s reliance on SpaceX but also commences a massive commercial partnership with Amazon’s Project Leo. With 32 satellites on board, success is crucial for re-establishing sovereign access to heavy-lift capabilities.