Skynet Revisited

The launch of the third and final Skynet military communications satellite, originally scheduled for 30 May 2008–as reported here on Eurocritics–is now scheduled for Thursday, 12 June.

The original launch, on a heavy lift Ariane 5 rocket, was called off “after a software programming glitch was discovered during the final countdown”.

The upcoming flight will orbit a dual satellite payload of EADS Astrium’s Skynet 5C spacecraft for U.K.-based operator Paradigm, and the Thales Alenia Space-built Turksat 3A relay platform for Turksat of Turkey.