The European Space Agency says a new date has been set for the launch of MetOp, designed to become Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite.
The ESA said Oct. 17 was confirmed as the new launch date Thursday by the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, the project manager.
The Paris-based space agency said the satellite will be launched Tuesday, Oct. 17, aboard a Soyuz rocket at 12:28 p.m. EDT (16:28 UTC) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The original launch, planned for Oct. 7, was postponed due to a mechanical problem at the launch site.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
