In the race for space the European rocket is called Ariane. Several countries worked on Ariane's development. Their objective: to avoid being dependent on the US for the launch of their satellites into orbit.

A-Z: A for Ariane

In the mid 1950s   the race to conquer space begins.

The United States and the Soviet Union   go head to head:

the first manned flights, satellite   launches and first steps on the moon.

In the space race, Europe's space ship   is called Ariane.

Several European countries   developed Ariane

because they did not want to depend   on the US to launch their satellites.

Ariane is a launcher. This rocket has two   or three levels filled with fuel.

It is propelled by powerful exhaust gases,   a bit like a balloon when it is deflating.

Ariane can launch   very big satellites into orbit,

which are used for   telecommunications and research.

They also guide planes, ships   and cars with increasing precision.

Ariane was developed by ESA,   the European Space Agency.

18 countries are in ESA,   and 16 of them are in the EU.

ESA sends European astronauts   to space in US and Russian space ships,

and it helps to build the ISS,   the International Space Station.