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ARIANESPACE FLIGHT 159

February 11: Intelsat 907's launch is delayed

The liftoff of Arianespace Flight 159's with Intelsat's newest 
Intelsat IX-series satellite has been put on hold due to unfavorable 
weather conditions at the launch site in French Guiana.

Although weather at ground-level was fine throughout the day, high 
altitude winds led to the countdown being stopped before the mobile 
service gantry was to be withdrawn this evening. As a result, activity 
on the launch pad was suspended prior to the startup of third stage 
fueling.

Liftoff of Flight 159 - the final mission with an Ariane 4 - had been
targeted for a one-hour launch window on February 12 that opened at 
4:00 a.m. local Kourou time (07h00 GMT, 8:00 a.m. Paris time and 2:00 
a.m. on the U.S. East Coast.)

Flight 159's Ariane 4 and the Intelsat 907 satellite payload have been 
put in a safe mode, ready for the next launch attempt - the timing of 
which will depend on the evolving weather conditions.

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