Arianespace Clears Ariane 5 For Launch

Arianespace has authorized the launch of its heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA rocket for Friday evening, Feb.

By Space War Editorial Team · Editorial process

Published February 22, 2006

Arianespace has authorized the launch of its heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA rocket for Friday evening, Feb. 24. The rocket will carry a dual payload of SPAINSAT, a military telecom satellite for Spain's Ministry of Defense, and HOT BIRD 7A, a television broadcasting satellite. Mission controllers approved the launch following the replacement of a problem component.

Ariane 5 ECA was returned to the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport on Thursday, and will be rolled out again Friday for its transfer to the launch zone.

Ariane 5's launch window begins at 7:11 p.m. local time, and runs through 8:21 p.m., Arianespace said in a statement.

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The Space War Editorial Team produces content across our two editorial pillars: space industry news and Mind & Meaning. We cover launches, missions, satellites, defense, and the technology of getting humans to space, alongside the psychology of ambition, isolation, and meaning under extremes. Articles reflect our team's collective editorial process, source verification, drafting, technical review, and editing, rather than a single writer's work. Space War takes editorial responsibility for content under this byline. For more on how we work, see our editorial policy.