CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Preparations to launch the next Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana resumed on Tuesday, ending a one-month hiatus in operations at the South America launch site that was imposed on Arianespace because their satellite customers were not ready to fly.

A pair of communications satellites -- SES Astra 2-B and GE Americom GE 7 -- are now targeted to ride atop Europe's most powerful booster on July 25. An on-time launch would result in a three-month gap since the last Ariane space shot.

According to an update appearing on the company's website, the 33-workday launch campaign began Monday with a management review. On Tuesday the Ariane 5's core stage was mounted to its mobile launch platform.

Following a series of final checks and preparations, the rocket will be moved to its ELA 3 launch pad the day before the targeted July 25 launch date.