Arianespace’s VA250 flight scheduled to launch Egypt’s TIBA-1 communications satellite and Inmarsat GX5 on-board the dual-payload Ariane 5 rocket scheduled for Friday, November 22 was scrubbed 20 minutes prior to liftoff due to a power supply anomaly in the ground segment of the Ariane 5 launch complex.

“We were in the final operations. We have faced an issue on ground means. Subsequently, Arianespace has decided to stop the final operations for today. Launcher and spacecraft are in a safe mood and we are now targeting the new launch window tomorrow,” Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel announced on Friday.

The flight was later scheduled for the following day and subsequently on Sunday but was postponed twice as the investigation continued.

However, Arianespace has successfully resolved the anomaly and confirmed that the flight will lift off today from the spaceport in French Guiana at 18:08 Kourou Time.

“The investigation on the power supply in the ground segment of the Ariane 5 launch complex along with associated checks allow to restart the launch chronology of Arianespace Flight VA250,” a statement by the company said, announcing the new targeted launch date.

The new targeted launch schedule is within the following window:

• Between 4:08 p.m. and 5:53 p.m. Washington, D.C. time
• Between 6:08 p.m. and 7:53 p.m. Kourou, French Guiana time
• Between 21:08 and 22:53 Universal / London Time (UTC/UK time)
• Between 10:08 p.m. and 11:53 p.m. Paris time, on the night of November 25
• Between 11:08 p.m. and 00:53 a.m. Cairo time, during the night of November 25 to 26

The launcher and its two satellite passengers – TIBA-1 and Inmarsat GX5 – are being maintained in fully safe conditions and in stand-by mode.

Space in Africa will bring you more updates as events unfold.