The launch of the Eurasiasat 1 telecommunications satellite aboard an Ariane 4 rocket will be delayed by at least several days to permit prime contractor Alcatel Space to verify the satellites telemetry equipment, Alcatel Space spokeswoman Sandrine Bielecki said Dec. 13.

After an initial two-day delay following concerns about the Ariane 4 rockets faring, Eurasiasat 1 had been set for launch Dec. 11 from Europes Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

To permit Alcatel to get at the root of the suspected problem, Arianespace ground teams have returned Eurasiasat 1 to the launch bases satellite preparation center. Bielecki said the results of the work on the satellite likely would not be known until early next week.