Posted: Thu, Nov 7, 2002, 8:00 AM ET (1300 GMT)
The next launch of the Ariane 5, the first to feature a new, more powerful upper stage, has been delayed until November 28, Arianespace announced Wednesday. Arianespace said that the vehicle passed a dress rehearsal for the launch, conducting a simulated countdown to the T-6 second point, on Tuesday with no problems reported. Launch is scheduled for Thursday, November 28, eight days later than previously announced; no reason for the change in launch dates was given. This Ariane 5 will be the first to use the ESC-A, a cryogenic upper stage derived from the Ariane 4 that will increase the Ariane 5's geosynchronous transfer orbit payload capacity to 10 tonnes. The booster, designed Flight 157, will launch Eutelsat's Hot Bird 7 spacecraft as well as the Stentor experimental communications satellite for the French space agency CNES.

Related Links:

•  Arianespace press release