The launch, Arianespace's second of 2000, was postponed 24 hours due to thick layered clouds that could have caused the rocket to generate triggered lightning during liftoff. Arianespace has decided to postpone tonight's launch of the Ariane 4 rocket with Superbird 4 for 24 hours due to bad weather. Thick clouds over the launch site did not clear in time to permit liftoff during tonight's 51-minute window. After passing Minus-6 minutes, computers would be running the countdown. An unplanned hold due to the weather or any other problem inside the sequence would have resulted in the countdown being recycled back to Minus-6 minutes.
Weather conditions remain unacceptable for launch.
However, officials remain hopeful the thick layered clouds over Kourou will move away shortly. There are 30 minutes remaining in tonight's window in which to launch the Ariane 4 rocket. If liftoff has not occurred by 0155 GMT, the launch will be postponed 24 hours. Given the super-cold nature of the cryos, the fuels naturally boil away during the countdown. Also, the battery trickle charge to the Superbird 4 spacecraft is continuing, Arianespace says.