Ariane 5 in the launch zone

Europe's Ariane 5 rocket moved to the launch zone in French Guiana on Wednesday, loaded with a pair of telecommunications satellites to serve Eutelsat, Qatar and the Indian Navy.

The 17-story launcher, powered by twin solid rocket boosters and a hydrogen-fueled core engine, will lift off at 2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT). The flight has a 50-minute launch window.

It will take about a half-hour to deliver the Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT 7 payloads into geostationary transfer orbit.

See our Mission Status Center for the latest news on the launch.

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - G Barbaste

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P Baudon

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