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 …