| The launch of an Ariane rocket that was to lob a Canadian telecommunications satellite into orbit was postponed because of a problem with the European launcher, officials said Monday, hours before blastoff. A problem was detected in the Ariane-5 launcher being prepared at its base in Kourou, French Guyana. The launcher had to be returned to the assembly building, according to Arianespace, the rocket's commercial arm. There was no immediate information about the "anomaly" in the launcher, and no new launch date was set. The rocket was to put into geostationary orbit the Anik F2 telecommunications satellite, at nearly six tonnes the largest such satellite in the world. It is own by Telesat. In a brief statement, Telesat said Anik F2 was "in excellent condition and remains ready for launch." It did not immediately provide further details. It would have been Ariane's second launch of the year. Five are planned. |