Europe bids farewell to Ariane 5, its trusted workhorse rocket

Europe's Ariane 5 rocket, which has been in operation since 1996, completed its final mission by launching two satellites into orbit. The first satellite, Heinrich-Hertz, is an experimental communications satellite managed by the German space agency, while the second satellite, Syracuse 4B, is a military communication relay for the French government. The Ariane 5 has had a successful operational career, with a 96% success rate over 117 missions. Its replacement, the Ariane 6, is expected to launch in late 2023.