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December's launch of the Ariane 5 ECA heavy lift rocket. Currently, the most powerful rocket in service surpassing either the American Titan/Atlas or Russian Soyuz, it is destined for a variety of uses including lifting components and modules to help finish construction of the ISS. It's likely to remain the most powerful lift vehicle until NASA's proposed Lunar Heavy Lift Vehicle comes into service which will dwarf even the Saturn V rocket.

Credit: ESA/Arianespace.