Wednesday's mission was the ninth Ariane rocket launch this year and the 40th consecutive successful launch of an Ariane-4 rocket.

CNN: Ariane rocket orbits U.S. communications satellites

Twenty minutes after liftoff, space officials said the AfriStar satellite weighing 6, 038 pound (2, 739 kg) separated from the Ariane rocket.

CNN: Ariane rocket orbits U.S. communications satellites

Thursday's flawed flight was the first time an Ariane rocket had malfunctioned since Ariane-5's maiden test flight exploded 37 seconds after launch in 1996.

CNN: Ariane rocket puts satellites in defective orbit