The new European rocket Ariane 6 is to be launched into space for the first time in July, some four years later than originally planned, according to the European Space Agency (ESA) on Wednesday.
The first launch attempt is set to take place on July 9 from the European spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana.
"Ariane 6 marks a new era of autonomous, versatile European space travel," said ESA CEO Josef Aschbacher. "With its launch, it will re-establish Europe's independent access to space."
Ariane 6 is the successor to Ariane 5, which was in operation from 1996 until the summer of 2023. It is set to launch satellites into space for commercial and public clients and is significantly cheaper than its predecessor, amid aims to make Europe's space programme more competitive.
ESA says there are already orders for 30 flights with the rocket. The first commercial flight is due to take place before the end of the year.
ESA plans to use Ariane 6, which was originally scheduled to fly into space as early as 2020, until at least the mid-2030s.
The launch of Ariane 6 is hugely important for Europe's space industry, which has been without a launcher since the last Ariane 5 lifted off into space last July.