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Flight 157
December 7: The "10-ton" Ariane 5 is ready for a December 11 launch

December 11 is the new liftoff date for Arianespace's first flight of 
the increased-lift "10-ton" Ariane 5.

The date was confirmed today following replacement of two external
chill-down igniters on the Ariane 5's launch table. These devices were
replaced after the original countdown for Flight 157 was interrupted 
on November 28 in final seconds due to an anomaly with data concerning 
the igniters' operation.

While the igniters are not a direct part of the Ariane 5, they do 
perform an important task by burning off accumulated hydrogen used to 
chill down the launcher's Vulcain 2 cryogenic main engine before it 
begins operation.

Testing determined that sensors responsible for signaling the 
igniters' correct operation did not function properly during the 
November 28 countdown, resulting in the launch scrub.

Preparations are now on track for the Ariane 5's rollout to the 
Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone on December 10, followed by the evening 
liftoff on December 11. The launch window opens at 7:22 p.m. Kourou 
time and continues to 8:14 p.m.

Flight 157 will carry two satellite payloads, demonstrating the Ariane 
5's capability to pair up all types of spacecraft for efficient dual 
launches.  The first satellite to be deployed is the Eutelsat HOT 
BIRDTM 7 TV broadcast platform, followed minutes later by the French 
CNES space agency's Stentor telecom demonstrator spacecraft.

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