MUMBAI:Arianespace's ninth mission of 2002, which will loft a dual satellite payload aboard an Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is set to take off later today from Kourou, French Guiana.

The completed Ariane 5 for Flight 155 has been transferred to the launch zone on Monday, marking final preparations for this evening's scheduled liftoff. The launch review last weekend validated the readiness of Ariane 5, its Atlantic BirdTM 1 and MSG-1 payloads, the launch site and downrange tracking stations. The dual payload launch will carry the Eutelsat operated Atlantic Bird 1 telecommunications satellite and Eumetsat operated MSG1 meteorological satellite into orbit.

The Atlantic Bird 1 will ride in the upper payload position on Ariane 5 and is to be released first, followed by deployment of MSG-1, according to the commercial carrier.