Ariane 5 rocket launch postponed
{{date|November 13, 2005}}

The launch of the [[w:Ariane 5|Ariane 5]] ECA rocket has been postponed due to a technical hitch. The rocket, which has a record payload of 10,000 kg, was due to launch in the 45 minute window opening at 4.35PM (23:45 GMT) on November 12th, 2005 from a base at [[w:Kourou|Kourou]], [[w:French Guiana|French Guiana]]. Officials have not yet given a new date for launch.

The rocket is the ECA version of the Ariane 5 rocket, which has been modified to enable it to carry a heavier payload. This rocket is carrying the Spaceway 2 for customer ''[http://www.directv.com/ DIRECTV]'' and Telkom 2 for customer ''[http://www.telkom.co.id/ PT Telkom Indonesia]'', both telecommunications satellites to be released into a geosynchronous orbit.

The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 ECA ended in disaster in 2002 when the rocket veered off course over the Atlantic Ocean and self-destructed, dumping two satellites worth 600 million euros into the sea. A second flight successfully launched in February, 2005, releasing two satellites into orbit. This will be the rocket's third flight.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4432446.stm
|title=Technical hitch delays Ariane 5
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=November 13, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/mission_up_247.html
|title=Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA is ready for launch 
|author=Ariannespace
|pub=Ariannespace
|date=November 11, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-11-12T234851Z_01_ROB285622_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-SPACE-ARIANE-DC.XML
|title=Technical hitch delays Ariane space launch
|author=Reuters UK
|pub=Reuters UK
|date=November 12, 2005}}

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[[Category:French Guiana]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:South America]]
The launch of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket has been postponed due to a technical hitch. The rocket, which has a record payload of 10,000 kg, was due to launch in the 45 minute window opening at 4.35PM (23:45 GMT) on November 12th, 2005 from a base at Kourou, French Guiana. Officials have not yet given a new date for launch.

The rocket is the ECA version of the Ariane 5 rocket, which has been modified to enable it to carry a heavier payload. This rocket is carrying the Spaceway 2 for customer  DIRECTV and Telkom 2 for customer  PT Telkom Indonesia, both telecommunications satellites to be released into a geosynchronous orbit.

The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 ECA ended in disaster in 2002 when the rocket veered off course over the Atlantic Ocean and self-destructed, dumping two satellites worth 600 million euros into the sea. A second flight successfully launched in February, 2005, releasing two satellites into orbit. This will be the rocket's third flight.
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