At 8:59:50 pm on 9th July 2024, engineers sat tensely behind countless monitors and listened to the countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7... At exactly 9:00 pm German time, the word "Décollage" (French for "take-off") was uttered. Amidst a roaring tail of fire and huge clouds of steam, the new Ariane 6 launch vehicle lifted off into space from Kourou in French Guiana. The team in Kourou was in a celebratory mood after the first mission. But the excitement was not only there. The launch was shown on public screens at all ArianeGroup sites. "We have been eagerly awaiting this moment for eight years and have worked hard for it," says Stefan W. He is responsible for the metalcutting processes for ArianeGroup engines at the Ottobrunn site. The manufacture of the individual components and assemblies is literally rocket science. Due to the extremely tight tolerances, exotic materials and high component costs, it is crucial that nothing goes wrong during production. Stefan and his experienced machining team rely on the precision tools and technical expertise of Paul Horn GmbH.