Evry-Courcouronnes, France June 8, 2006 — Arianespace announced today that the launch of Spaceway 2 and TELKOM-2 will be delayed due to a technical problem that was discovered on the TELKOM-2 spacecraft during pre-launch testing at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
In order to adequately diagnose and fix the TELKOM-2 satellite, Orbital Sciences Corporation, the manufacturer of the spacecraft, is immediately returning the spacecraft to its facility in Dulles, VA, USA.
DirecTV’s Spaceway 2 satellite, manufactured by Boeing, has successfully completed all pre-flight testing and is now ready for fueling. Spaceway 2 will be placed on standby.
Arianespace is studying all available options to execute the launch as early as possible.
About Arianespace
Arianespace is the commercial launch services leader, holding more than 50 percent of the international market for satellites launched to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Created in 1980 as the world’s first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of more than 260 satellite payloads. For further information, see the Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.
