European rocket to launch lunar explorer, Indian satellite

PARIS (AFP) Sep 27, 2003
Europe's Ariane-5 rocket is to launch a lunar explorer and two satellites, including one Indian module, on Saturday night, the European Arianespace consortium said.

The 162nd takeoff of a European launcher was scheduled between 20:02 and 20:21 (2302 and 2321 GMT) from Kourou, French Guyana.

The rocket will put on orbit two geostationary satellites, one Indian and one European.

It will also launch Europe's SMART-1 lunar explorer, which will be steered into orbit around the moon and carry out observations from December 2004.

The flight had initially been scheduled for August 28 but was postponed on two occasions in order to allow the Indian Space Research Organisation to carry out extra checks on its communications satellite before launch.

SPACE.WIRE