Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket has successfully lifted off, delivering a satellite set to boost the capacity and safety of French military communications.

The Syracuse 3A, launched for the French Ministry of Defence, will also extend the scope of geographical areas covered – filling gaps including Afghanistan. This is the fourth mission of the year for Arianespace, the European company that dominates the satellite launch industry. As it took off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, Ariane 5 was also carrying another important payload – the US communications satellite Galaxy 15.

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