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Green Light For Arianespace Saturday Launch

By Staff Writer | September 26, 2003

      Arianespace Flight 162 has the go-ahead for a liftoff on Saturday with a three-satellite payload. An Ariane 5G vehicle is set to carry the European Space Agency‘s SMART-1 lunar exploration probe, Eutelsat‘s e-BIRD broadband service satellite, and the Indian Space Research Organisation‘s INSAT 3E telecommunications/video broadcast spacecraft.

      The launch from the Spaceport in French Guiana was scheduled for Aug. 28, but was delayed when one of the customers requested more time to check out its spacecraft. Liftoff of Flight 162 is set at the opening of a 19-minute launch window, which extends from 8:02 p.m. to 8:21 p.m. local time in French Guiana (11:02-11:21 p.m. GMT).