The launch of a European heavy rocket to place two large broadcasting satellites in orbit has been delayed by 24 hours on due to strong high-altitude winds, officials said. The unfavourable weather for the 2229-2323 UTC launch window “lead us to decide not to launch tonight. We’ll try again tomorrow (Friday) at the same time,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, chairman and CEO of Arianespace, the launch operator.
The Ariane-5 ECA rocket is set to lift the 4.5 tonne Astra 1L, providing high-definition TV over Europe for the Luxembourg-based firm SES Astra, and the 4.1-tonne Galaxy 17, which will provide TV and communications over North America for Intelsat. The launch is be the 176th for Ariane and the 32nd involving an Ariane 5.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
The Ariane-5 ECA rocket is set to lift the 4.5 tonne Astra 1L, providing high-definition TV over Europe for the Luxembourg-based firm SES Astra, and the 4.1-tonne Galaxy 17, which will provide TV and communications over North America for Intelsat. The launch is be the 176th for Ariane and the 32nd involving an Ariane 5.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)