Galileo Satellite to Launch on October 21

The European Space Agency (ESA) was forced to cancel an attempt to launch the first two Galileo satellites yesterday, October 20, due to a glitch encountered with the Soyuz ST-B delivery system carrying the spacecraft. A new launch attempt is scheduled for today, October 21.

ESA engineers working at the Kourou Spaceport, in French Guiana, South America, were able to conclude the damage assessment and repairs needed to bring the Soyuz back online faster than expected. They also gave mission controllers green light to try and launch the spacecraft today.

Takeoff is now scheduled for 12:30:26 pm CEST (1030:26 GMT). ESA officials are confident that the same error they came across yesterday will not occur again today. The Soyuz rocket experienced an anomaly as it was being fueled up for launch yesterday.