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Flight 157
October 22: The "10 ton" Ariane 5 gets 
ready for its dual satellite payload

Arianespace's first increased-lift "10 ton" Ariane 5 is back in the 
final assembly building following last week's full dress rehearsal, 
which included a test firing of the Vulcain main engine.

Last week's "launch system rehearsal" included the simultaneous 
filling of the EPC and ESC-A cryogenic stages, followed by simulated 
countdowns that concluded with the Vulcain's planned ignition and 
operation for 14 seconds

The Ariane 5 was then rolled back to the Spaceport's final assembly 
building while data from the rehearsal is processed.

Liftoff of Flight 157 is scheduled from November 20 carrying the dual
payload of Eutelsat's HOT BIRDTM 7 and the Stentor telecommunications
demonstrator spacecraft for the French CNES space agency.

Flight 157 will be Arianespace's 11th launch of 2002.

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