The launch of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket (photo), that will carry the Spainsat Spanish military staellite into orbit, has been delayed again owing to a problem with the other satellite being transported, a French Hot Bird 7A Eutelsat.

The launch was supposed to go ahead at 19.13pm local time (23.13 CET) last night from Kurú in French Guyana.

The photo shows the view of the launch on one of the monitors at the flight control centre in Ajalvir (Madrid).

Spainsat launch delayed until tomorrow
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Owing to technical problems, Spainsat, Spain's new military communications satellite, which was supposed to be launched from French Guayana last Tuesday, will now be launched tomorrow. The Ariane 5 ECA rocket launcher, which experienced a fault in one of its resistances, will also carry a Eutelsat, Hot Bird 7A satellite.

According to military sources, Spainsat will "drastically improve" telecommunications for Spanish troops overseas as it will combine with the Xtar-Eur launched last year, and give coverage to two thirds of the globe, from Denver (USA) to Singapore.

It will be used for humanitarian missions, sending images to "decision centres," military operations, security and intelligence, ambassadorial services and general governmental communications.

The launch of Spainsat completes the minstry of Defence's satellite communications programme, which is designed to meet their needs until 2020, and which has cost €415 million.