The launch of a European Ariane rocket carrying two satellites was postponed because of strong winds high above French Guiana on Tuesday, space officials said.

The rocket was due to launch from the European Space Agency's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America carrying the Hispasat 1E satellite for Spanish telecoms operator Hispasat and Koreasat 6 for South Korea's Korea Telecom.

"We are unable to authorize a launch tonight because of the high altitude winds," Joel Barre, Director of The Guiana Space Center said.

He said a new attempt to launch the rocket would be made on Wednesday.

High altitude winds can cause debris from the rocket to fall on populated areas.

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