Vega rocket puts Moroccan observation satellite into orbit

PERSISMA – The European consortium Arianespace on Wednesday announced it had put a Moroccan observation satellite into orbit using a Vega rocket that was launched overnight from French Guiana.

The satellite, named Mohammed VI in honor of the North African country’s current monarch, separated from the rocket 55 minutes and 33 seconds after the launch, which occurred Tuesday at 10.42 pm local time in Kourou (1.42 am GMT Wednesday), according to a statement by Arianespace.