BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW WRITERS March 8, 2001 -- Follow the preparations and launch of the Arianespace Ariane 509 rocket carrying the Eurobird and BSAT-2a communications satellites. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.				Flight data file Vehicle: Ariane 509 Payload: Eurobird & BSAT-2a Launch date: March 8, 2001 Launch window: 2251-2347 GMT (5:51-6:47 p.m. EST) Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana