The Ariane rocket is a family of launch vehicles developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and operated by Arianespace. It is designed to transport satellites into orbit and has been used for various missions since its first launch in 1979. The Ariane rockets are known for their reliability and have successfully launched numerous commercial and scientific payloads. The most recent version, Ariane 6, aims to improve cost efficiency and flexibility for satellite launches. It is part of Europe's efforts to maintain a competitive position in the global space launch market, competing with other rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9 and United Launch Alliance's Atlas V.