Access to space

Without launchers, no space activity would be possible. No satellites circling the Earth providing so many benefits we now take for granted in our daily lives – enhanced telephone and telecommunications connection, TV and radio beamed to remote areas, images of the Earth’s surface with their myriad applications, long-range weather forecasting, precise location devices … No space adventure, no man on the moon, no exploring our planetary neighbours …

The ability to master the technology to overcome the force of gravity is undoubtedly one of Man’s great advances, opening the door to new worlds of possibility.

Having a launch capability is key to a country’s or group of countries’ independence. It confers the ability to carry out missions deemed necessary without commercial or strategic restriction. When Europe built its first satellites, the Franco–German Symphony satellites launched in 1974 and 1975, it did not at the time have its own launcher, and was obliged to turn to the US, who agreed to launch them on condition that no commercial use was made of the satellites. Thus, in the 1970s Europe decided to develop its own launcher, Ariane, which has since become a flagship symbol for European autonomy, contributing in an essential manner to a convincing European space presence.