spacetoday.net: Ariane 5 launch delayed

Posted: Mon, Jul 12, 2004, 8:51 PM ET (0051 GMT)
Ariane 5 prior to flight 160 launch (Arianespace)

The launch of a Canadian communications satellite on an Ariane 5 has been delayed because of a problem with the booster, Arianespace announced Monday evening. The Ariane 5G was scheduled to lift off from Kourou, French Guiana Monday evening and place the Anik F2 satellite into orbit. However, late Monday launch controllers stopped the countdown after "an anomaly occurred during a data checkpoint with the launcher." No further details about the problem were disclosed. Arianespace said in a statement that the booster would be brought back to its assembly building to correct the problem. No new launch date was disclosed, but the rollback suggests that the launch will be delayed at least a couple days.