spacetoday.net: Technical glitch delays Ariane 5 launch

Technical glitch delays Ariane 5 launch

Posted: Sun, Mar 11, 2007, 1:58 PM ET (1758 GMT)
Ariane 5 prior to Flight 165 launch (Arianespace)

The launch of two communications satellites Saturday was postponed for 24 hours because of a problem with ground equipment. The Ariane 5 ECA was scheduled to lift off late Saturday from Kourou, French Guiana, but the launch was postponed because of a problem with a water deluge system used at the launch pad to suppress sound. Arianespace said in a statement the launch would be rescheduled for late Sunday as a result. The Ariane 5 is carrying the Skynet 5A military communications satellite for Great Britain and the Insat 4B communications satellite for India. The launch will be the first of as many as six Ariane 5 launches scheduled for 2007.