Ariane 5’s dual-payload launch is set for April 22

Arianespace’s second heavy-lift flight of 2011 is now scheduled for the evening of April 22, based on the additional checkout and verifications currently in progress for the Ariane 5 ECA launcher following the final countdown’s interruption on March 30. This mission is the 201st launch of an Ariane family vehicle, and will orbit a dual-payload of the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.