Europe's space hopes on hold as rocket explodes.

From: The Evening Standard (London, England) | Date: December 12, 2002| Author: | Copyright information

Byline: CHRIS MILLAR

EUROPE's space exploration programme faced massive embarrassment today after the Ariane 5 rocket exploded into flames three minutes after takeoff.

The unmanned rocket, Europe's most powerful, appeared to make a perfect lift-off but minutes later dramatically disintegrated in a burst of light.

Hundreds of scientists and onlookers, gathered at the launchpad in French Guiana, South America, fell silent as the rocket carrying two satellites worth pound sterling400 million plung ed towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Experts from the embattled research ...

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