Satnews Daily
December 18th, 2018

And Now... Another Launch Delay for Today, December 18, 2018


 

Arianespace has notified all that a 24-hour launch delay for Flight VS20 has been implemented, due to altitude winds.


The integration of the French CSO-1 satellite into the “upper composite” of the Soyuz launch vehicle in French Guiana. Photo is courtesy of Arianespace.

Unfavorable high-altitude wind conditions above the Spaceport launch site in French Guiana has resulted in a 24-hour delay for Arianespace’s Flight VS20 mission with the French CSO-1 satellite payload. The Soyuz launch vehicle and its spacecraft passenger are in a stable and safe condition.

Flight VS20’s new targeted launch date is December 19 at exactly:

  • 11:37:14 a.m., in Washington, D.C.
  • 13:37:14 p.m., in Kourou, French Guiana
  • 16:37:14, Universal Time (UTC)
  • 17:37:14 p.m., in Paris
  • 19:37:14 p.m., in Moscou
  • 01:37:14 a.m., in Tokyo on December 20, 2018

The CSO-1 satellite will be orbited for France’s CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) space agency and the DGA (Direction générale de l’armement) defense procurement agency, on behalf of the French Ministry of Defense. Operating in  SSO, the satellite is to take 3D pictures and acquire very-high-resolution images.