BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW September 14, 2000 -- Follow the preparations and launch of the Astra 2B and GE-7 communications satellites aboard the Ariane 506 rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.				Flight data file Vehicle: Ariane 5 Payload: Astra 2B & GE-7 Launch date: Sept. 14, 2000 Launch window: 2254-2349 GMT (6:54-7:49 p.m. EDT) Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Pre-launch Briefing Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of the events to occur during launch. Track - A map shows the typical orbital track an Ariane 5 follows to space. Ariane directory - See our previous coverage of Ariane rocket launches.