The final countdown for Arianespace’s 2009 year-opening flight is underway, with liftoff scheduled during a 55-minute launch window that opens at 7:09 p.m., local time in French Guiana.
This evening’s Ariane 5 mission will orbit two primary payloads: HOT BIRD™ 10 for Eutelsat and SES NEW SKIES’ NSS-9 – as well as two Spirale micro-satellites.