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, primarily for commercial purposes, and has been in service since the early 1970s. The most recent version, Ariane 6, aims to provide a more cost-effective solution for launching payloads into space. The Ariane rocket series has successfully launched numerous satellites, including those for telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research. Its reliability and performance have made it a key player in the global space launch market, competing with other rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9.