Ariane 6 rocket lifts off with Swiss participation

The European launcher Ariane 6 has been launched into space for the first time with four boosters. The rocket lifted off from the European space centre in Kourou in French Guiana on Thursday. Ariane 6 is also flying thanks to Switzerland. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The launch could be followed in a live broadcast by the European Space Agency (ESA). On board the rocket were 32 satellites for the internet giant Amazon's Leo project. Amazon Leo is a satellite internet network currently under construction. This was the sixth flight for Ariane 6. However, this was the first time that its more powerful configuration with four boosters was used. Previously, the rocket flew with only two boosters. The boosters are the engines attached to the side of the rocket that provide the thrust to accelerate the rocket during take-off. With four boosters, the rocket can carry 21.6 tonnes of payload into low Earth orbit. With two boosters it is only 10.3 tonnes. + In ...