The Ariane-5 carried satellites for the Spanish defense ministry and for Paris-based Eutelsat Communications SA, Arianespace, the commercial arm of the 13-country European Space Agency, said in a statement.

The rocket launched at 5:32 p.m. EST (22:32 GMT).

The 3.7-metric ton (4.1 ton) Spainsat satellite, built by U.S.-based Space Systems/Loral, is intended to improve communications among troops and for the government in general, Spain's defense ministry has said.

The Hot Bird 7A, a 4.1-ton (4.5-US ton) satellite built by France-based Alcatel Alenia Space, is the 21st satellite launched for the telecom operator Eutelsat Communications. It will transmit more than 850 television channels and 550 radio stations to 110 million homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for the next 15 years.

Spainsat deployed about 27 minutes after the Ariane 5 liftoff from French Guiana, followed about 5 minutes later by the separation of the Hot Bird 7A, Arianespace said.

The launch was previously postponed due to technical problems and when Alcatel requested more time to review a function.

It wasn't possible to follow the rocket's takeoff due to the cloudy skies. The launch was the 170th of an Ariane rocket since the French-led program began in 1979.

Arianespace has scheduled five launches from its base in Kourou this year, although it would try for six, said Jean-Yves Le Gall, the agency's chief executive officer.

Arianespace also was building a launch pad for Russian Soyuz rockets in Kourou, and the first Soyuz takeoff was set for November 2008.