Launch delayed of Ariane-5 rocket with Canadian satellite

PARIS (AFP) Jul 12, 2004
A technical problem Monday forced the European Space Agency (ESA) to postpone the launch an Ariane-5 rocket carrying a Canadian telecommunications satellite, Arianespace said.

It was not clear when the launch could take place.

The rocket had been scheduled to take off at 9:43 pm Monday local time (0043 GMT Tuesday) from the agency's launchpad in Kourou, French Guiana.

But "an anomaly" appeared in the rocket during final checks prior to launch, Arianespace said.

Built by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) in El Segundo, California, the six-tonne satellite, Anik-2F, is to provide telecommunication services across North America for 15 years for the Canadian operator Telesat.

SPACE.WIRE