spacetoday.net: Ariane launch aborted

Posted: Thu, Mar 31, 2011, 6:45 AM ET (1045 GMT)
Ariane 5 prior to Yahsat 1A/New Dawn launch (Arianespace)

The Ariane 5 launch of two communications satellites was aborted Wednesday after the rocket's main engine ignited. According to Arianespace, the rocket's Vulcain main engine ignited as scheduled at 5:45 pm EDT (2145 GMT) Wednesday, but the checkout process during ignition detected an unspecified anomaly, shutting down the engine before the two solid-rocket boosters ignited. Arianespace said it would return the rocket to the final assembly building to prepare it for another launch attempt while investigating the cause of the problem. No new launch date was immediately announced. The Ariane 5 was to launch the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn communications satellites.