Ariane 5

A powerful Ariane 5 rocket has launched Europe's biggest satellite to monitor the Earth's environmental changes.

Minutes after the rocket lifted off from the European Space Agency's base in French Guiana late Thursday, the eight-ton satellite, ENVISAT, separated from the Ariane rocket, beginning its five year mission. The satellite will circle the planet every 100 minutes from a height of 800 kilometers.

ENVISAT is expected to provide scientists with more accurate information on topics such as the health of rain forests, the rate of the melting of polar ice-caps and the concentration of harmful greenhouse gases.

The satellite is also the heaviest and most expensive satellite built in Western Europe.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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