Ariane 5 rocket's launch with two satellites postponed

The launch of two communication satellites atop heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou launch center in French Guiana was postponed due to "technical problem," the France-based Arianespace announced early Saturday. Due to some problems with the valve, the launch center decided to postpone the fourth mission of Ariane 5 in 2011, said Jean-Yves Le Gall, chief executive officer of Arianespace, in a brief statement. The reason causing this problem is under investigation and a new launch date would be announced as soon as possible, he added. Ariane 5 was planned to lift off carrying ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R during the launch window from 2143 GMT to 2306 GMT on Friday. However, the countdown was suspended just minutes before the launch window. Astra 1N is built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse, France, for the Luxembourg-based operator SES Astra. With a designed lifespan of 15 years, it has an estimated liftoff mass of 5,350 kg. BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, for Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. It weighs about 2,910 kg at launch and has a lifetime exceeding 16 years.