Ariane 5 ECA V189 launcher is readied for lift-off

The Ariane 5 ECA launcher for flight V189 is readied for lift-off from Ariane Launch Complex Three (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3 – ELA-3) at the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, on 1 July 2009.

The Ariane 5 ECA of flight V189 will carry the TerreStar 1 telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. TerreStar 1 will be the largest and most powerful commercial telecommunications satellite ever launched and will provide voice, data and video communications to satellite/terrestrial mobile devices across the USA and Canada.