Arianespace has delayed its latest satellite launch, after discovering a defective equipment when arming the new Vega C launcher. It's tentatively rescheduled the launch for 20 December. In order to replace the defective equipment, the upper composite of the launcher will be taken back to the payload preparation facilities and the payload fairing will be opened for intervention. The two Pleiades Neo satellites scheduled for launch have been protected until the operation can resume. As a result of the delay, Arianespace is also rescheduling its next Ariane 5 flight (VA259) to 13 December, rather than 14 December.
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