Posted: Wed, Feb 22, 2006, 7:24 AM ET (1224 GMT)
The launch of two communications satellites on an Ariane 5 has been delayed because of ground equipment problems. The Ariane 5 ECA was scheduled to launch Tuesday evening carrying the Hot Bird 7A and Spainsat satellites, but the launch was scrubbed several hours before the scheduled lift-off time because of "an anomaly on a ground equipment", according to a brief Arianespace statement about the delay. No new launch date has been announced. The launch will be the first of five to six Ariane 5 launches the company has planned for 2006.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  NasaSpaceFlight.com article
•  Arianespace press release