spacetoday.net: Ariane launch delayed

Posted: Wed, Aug 28, 2002, 7:52 AM ET (1152 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch on Flight 145 (ESA)

Technical problems delayed the Ariane 5 launch of two satellites Tuesday by one day. The Ariane 5 was scheduled to launch at 6:30 pm EDT (2230 GMT), but the countdown was stopped three minutes before launch because of a glitch between the booster's onboard computers and ground systems. Engineers appeared to have resolved the problem in time to resume the launch, and the countdown was reset to the T-7 minute mark, but when the countdown started it immediately stopped again, as the launch would have occurred just outside the launch window. The launch has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 pm EDT (2230 GMT). The Ariane 5 is carrying the Atlantic Bird 1 communications satellite and the MSG 1 weather satellite.