The planned launch of a European Ariane rocket early Sunday from French Guiana with a payload of two communication satellites was delayed again.

Arianespace, which operates the flights, announced late Saturday in Paris that takeoff was scrubbed at the European space launch centre in Kourou, French Guiana. No reason was offered for the halted mission, and no new launch schedule was announced.

The unmanned Ariane 5 rocket, the European model with the strongest lift capability, was to deliver satellites to space for telephone service and TV broadcasts. Both devices would have been released into orbit about 30 minutes after takeoff.

The launch was previously postponed twice - most recently on Friday - to replace defective electronic devices.