A space physics expert has warned that debris falling from the sky could cause major damage and even kill people.

Everything looked fine as the rocket climbed away from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana Europe's normally highly dependable rocket, the Ariane 5, experienced an anomaly during its latest launch.

"A completely new rocket is not launched often, and success is far from guaranteed. I am privileged to have witnessed this historic moment when Europe's new generation of the Ariane family lifted ...

now-retired Ariane 5, notably experienced an issue with the rocket's upper stage that prevented it from performing a final deorbit burn. — Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket launches on long ...