[Satellite TODAY 12-18-09] Arianespace postponed the launch of the French Defense Procurement Agency’s (DGA) Helios 2B satellite a second time after an anomaly occurred during final countdown, Arianespace announced Dec. 17.
    Arianespace could not make a second attempt Dec. 17 due to the narrow launch window. The launch vehicle and its satellite payload have been placed in stand-by mode, and a new date for the mission will be announced as soon as possible, the launch provider said.
    Helios 2B, built and developed by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, is the second satellite in France’s next-generation space-borne observation system for military applications that will be used in conjunction with Belgium, Spain, Italy and Greece.