Europe's Ariane 6 launcher is to carry out its first commercial mission Monday when it puts a French military intelligence satellite into space. After several postponements, the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite launcher Ariane 6 from the Kourou base in French Guiana is expected at 1:24pm local time (4:24pm GMT).

Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket successfully deployed a French spy satellite in its first fully operational launch on Thursday, completing a return to space for a continent facing questions over its role amid a security rift with the United States.