FRANCE: Following the successful Launcher System Rehearsal in Kourou on 5 November, Arianespace has announced that its Flight 157 is now scheduled for a 28 November take-off.

Arianespace's 11th launch of the year will orbit two satellites: HOT BIRD 7 for telecom operator Eutelsat, and STENTOR, a telecom technology demonstration satellite for the French space agency CNES.

The second Launcher System Rehearsal went off without a hitch, including the simultaneous filling with liquid hydrogen and oxygen of the cryogenic main stage (EPC) and cryogenic upper stage (ESC-A), as well as the synchronised launch sequence, up to T - 6 seconds. Based on this successful rehearsal, Arianespace scheduled the launch of the first "10-ton payload" Ariane 5.

Arianespace claims to be the commercial launch services leader, holding more than 50 per cent of the international market for satellites launched to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).