Europe returns to space with successful rocket launch – plus other technology news you need to know

The European Space Agency has successfully launched a new rocket into space. The Ariane-6 took off from French Guiana on 9 July.

The new heavy-lift rocket has a modular design that allows it to launch missions from low Earth orbit as well as further into space. It is intended to give European governments and companies access to space without needing to rely on other nations.

Despite being a demonstration flight, the rocket placed several satellites and experiments into space from a range of space agencies, businesses, research institutes and universities.

“With the successful first flight of Ariane 6, the European space industry has moved into a new era,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. “This historic launch demonstrates the unfailing commitment of our teams and partners, whom I would like to thank warmly for this success, which reflects on the entire European industry.”

After a smooth climb and satellite release, the rocket did experience an anomaly towards the end of the flight. This resulted in an onboard computer shutting down the auxiliary power unit, meaning the spacecraft was unable to initiate a burn that would have taken it out of orbit. This prevented the completion of the final part of the mission – jettisoning two re-entry capsules – but it was still declared a success.

Hong Kong is set to produce its first electric cars. Premium EV company BeyonCa has revealed plans to set up an assembly plant and international headquarters in the territory.

The Renault-backed car maker will complete most of the manufacturing in mainland China, but the final assembly will happen in a government-owned industrial park in Hong Kong. The company also plans to establish research and marketing centres in the area.

"We aim to achieve a breakthrough in Hong Kong's auto-manufacturing industry, becoming the first international premier electric-vehicle brand made in Hong Kong," said BeyonCa's founder and chairman, Weiming Soh.

Meanwhile, China’s biggest EV manufacturer, BYD, has agreed a deal to set up a manufacturing plant in Turkey, CNN reports. The announcement comes shortly after the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs shipped from the country into the bloc.

Elsewhere, UK start-up Nybolt has successfully charged an EV battery from 10% to 80% in under five minutes in a live demonstration. However, under laboratory conditions the company said it could charge a battery from empty to full in six minutes, according to the BBC.

China has announced plans to allow the use of self-driving cars in online ride-hailing services in Beijing. Draft rules have been published and will now seek public comment. The capital city made steps towards autonomous vehicles in 2020 when the country’s first high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone was built.

In the UK, the Road Haulage Association has urged the new government to tackle investment in infrastructure for electric trucks, calling for a public charging network. It says that 70% of British electric trucks return to depots for recharging, limiting their ability to make longer-haul deliveries, the Guardian reports.

And the launch schedule for a nuclear fusion reaction by ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, based in France) has been pushed back following construction delays. The reactor is not expected to reach its final stage until 2039.

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