PHOTOS: Ariane on the launch pad


An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket rolled to its South American launch pad Wednesday, preparing to lift the EchoStar 17 high-speed Internet satellite and Europe's MSG 3 geostationary weather observatory into orbit.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2136 GMT (5:36 p.m. EDT) on Thursday.

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace
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