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First Launch of the Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA Rocket

The second launch of the heavy lift Ariane 5 ECA rocket has been re-scheduled for a window opening at 23:46 hours GMT on November 16, 2005.

The mission is intended to loft a pair of telcom satellites – a Boeing Spaceway 2 for DirectTV and Orbital Science’s STAR 2 for PT Telkom. Arianespace launches from their Equatorial Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The flight was originally scheduled for November 10, but several technical problems, including issues with the mobile launch table, forced delays requiring Arianespace to roll the entire stack away from the launch zone back to the final assembly building.

Arianespace says the launcher is now back in position ready for launch. The Ariane 5 ECA is the most powerful of the current range of Arianespace launchers and is capable of placing nearly 10,000 kilograms on missions to geostationary transfer orbit.

Be sure to check out our cool Pilot Watches and Aviator Watches.