spacetoday.net: Arianespace, SpaceX delay launches

Posted: Thu, Nov 14, 2013, 1:55 PM ET (1855 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch of Eutelat 25B/GSAT-7 (Arianespace)

Arianespace has delayed its next Ariane 5 launch until January, while SpaceX has pushed back its next Cape Canaveral launch a few days, the companies said Wednesday. Arianespace said the upcoming launch of an Ariane 5 carrying the Amazonas 4A and ASTRA 5B satellites, previously scheduled for December 6, would be delayed until January in order for Hispasat to conduct additional checks of its Amazonas 4A satellite. Separately, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said Wednesday that the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch of the SES-8 satellite, which had been scheduled for November 22, was now planned for November 25. The delay, she said, would allow more time for preparations at the launch site and to give the launch team time to rest. That launch will be the Falcon 9's first mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit, and just the second launch of that variant of the Falcon 9.