Posted: Thu, Jul 2 2:57 AM ET (0657 GMT)
An Ariane 5 rocket launched the heaviest commercial communications satellite on Wednesday. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off at 1:52 pm EDT (1752 GMT) Wednesday after a 99-minute delay caused by weather and placed the TerreStar-1 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 26 minutes later. The satellite, the sole payload carried by the rocket, weighed 6,910 kilograms at launch, making it the heaviest commercial communications satellite ever launched. The Space Systems/Loral-built satellite will be used by TerreStar Networks at 111 degrees west in GEO to provide mobile communications services across North America at S-band wavelengths, integrated with terrestrial wireless networks.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  BBC article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Arianespace press release
•  TerreStar Networks press release

Posted: Thu, Jul 2 2:43 AM ET (0643 GMT)
NASA carried out a successful tanking test with the space shuttle Endeavour on Wednesday, clearing the way for a launch attempt on July 11. Shuttle workers filled Endeavour's external tank with liquid hydrogen in conditions like those that triggered hydrogen gas leaks during two fueling attempts last month, but after making fixes to a seal on a vent line that leaked hydrogen gas during those previous fueling events. This time, however, no hydrogen leaks were detected, and NASA shuttle managers said afterwards that they are ready to proceed with another launch attempt on July 11. Endeavour will fly to the International Space Station on the STS-127 mission to complete the assembly of the Japanese lab module Kibo by installing a platform outside the module. Five spacewalks are scheduled for the mission to accomplish this and other tasks during the 16-day mission.

Related Links:

•  Florida Today article
•  SPACE.com article
•  CBS News/Spaceflight Now article
•  AP article
•  Orlando Sentinel article

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