Ariane to launch satellites for Egypt, Brazil

KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) -- The 131st Ariane rocket is due to blast off from French Guiana on Thursday carrying communication satellites for Egypt and Brazil, Western Europe's launch company, Arianespace, said.

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The launch is due between 8:16 and 8:58 p.m. (2316 and 2358 GMT) from the European Space Agency launchpad in Kourou, mission director Jean-Marc Artaud said in a statement Wednesday.

On board the Ariane 4 rocket will be Egypt's NILESAT 102 direct television broadcast satellite and the BRASILSAT B4 for Brazil's telecommunications operator Embratel.

Ariane launches have been halted since April, mainly because manufacturers could not deliver satellites on time.

Another Ariane 4 rocket is due for launch on September 6.

Arianespace announced earlier that the sixth launch of a newer generation Ariane 5 rocket, originally scheduled for July but delayed for tests on the rocket's thrusters, would take place on September 14.

Arianespace said it had 40 heavy satellites on order for launch worth an estimated $3.3 billion.

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