Ariane-5 rocket launch blasts off

An Ariane-5 rocket took off from French Guiana Sunday, putting a British military satellite and an Indian telecommunications satellite into orbit, officials said.

The lift-off came 24 hours after a failed first attempt due to a “technical glitch” on the ground.

The spacecraft’s mission forms part of a £3.2bn operation to provide high-speed, secure communications for British and allied forces.

Skynet was released from the Ariane rocket after 30 minutes into the flight.

According to experts, it will take around a week for the satellite to settle into its final orbit.

All three satellites should be in place and operating by the end of 2008.

The Indian television satellite Insat 4B –  which hitched a lift on the flight – was also successfully launched.