Europe's new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket to be launched for first time

The inaugural flight of the European Space Agency's (ESA) most powerful rocket yet is scheduled to launch from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 3pm local time (1800 GMT).(AFP Photo)

Since the last flight of the rocket's workhorse predecessor, Ariane 5, a year ago, Europe has been unable to launch satellites.(AFP Photo)

Historically, nearly half of the first launches of new rockets have ended in failure.(ESA)

That includes Ariane 5, which exploded moments after liftoff in 1996 -- but out of its 117 launches over nearly 20 years, only one other flight would fail.(ESA)

Concealed in a nearby bunker, more than 200 experts in the launch centre will scrutinise the rocket until liftoff(ESA)

The mission will be considered a success after it deploys its payload and the rocket's reusable upper stage splashes down into the Pacific Ocean.(ESA)