I understand there must be some irrefutably valid points, but it seems crazy since it launched the most expensive science experiment in a while just over a year ago, perfectly.
As implied by the comment I’m replying to, the only reason to keep Ariane 5 flying would have been its good track record bringing business on the commercial market but that’s not going to happen because Falcon 9 gets all these customers now.
War is full of logistics challenges, and slipping a retrofitted container ship or tanker carrying an Ariane-sized rocket in between other innocent maritime traffic would be one of them.
Though the more common scenario in the last century or so seem to be harsh words, boycotts and proxy wars, not total war and sea blockades.
If you think the US would go so far as to block Europe from buying launches on US launchers, then the US could also easily blockade South America.
Certainty, blockade is another level to just cutting business ties but its certainty not comparable to WW2.
https://sscspace.com/the-world-watched-the-inauguration-of-s...
To a polar orbit. To geostationary it's not great (don't know would it even be possible).
It was actually meant to be retired a few years back.
As some have noted though it will still be an order of magnitude slower cadence than SpaceX is achieving and still not re-usable at all.