Evry,August 18, 2003- One of the clients for Flight 162 has requested additional verifications on its satellite payload components. As a result, Arianespace has decided to postpone the launch which originally was scheduled for the night of September 3-4 from the European Spaceport inFrench Guiana.

A new launch date will be provided later.

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 250 satellite payloads.  For further information, see the Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.