INTELSAT MAY PULL an Intelsat 7 satellite from its launch on a Chinese Long March 3B (LM3B) booster, originally planned for October.
The LM3B, a version of the LM2E with a cryogenic upper stage from the LM3A, has not yet been flown. Two controversial launches have been undertaken with the LM2E: one resulted in the loss of one satellite and the other ended with an explosion of the booster and its spacecraft payload (Flight International, 15-21 February). The LM3B is also scheduled to carry fly two Intelsat 8 spacecraft.
Intelsat is considering flying the Intelsat 7, on the second European Space Agency Ariane 5, demonstration launch in April 1996. This is being offered at a bargain price to potential customers. The Ariane 5 will be handed over to the commercial launch operator, Arianespace, for the third launch in October 1996.
Arianespace, which has two Intelsat 7 and two Intelsat 8 satellites on its manifest, is being pressed to include the AT&T Telstar 402R in a 1995 launch. The satellite, which is replacing the Telstar 402, lost after a successful Ariane launch in September 1994, cannot be launched until 1996, by a Lockheed Martin Atlas.
Delays in launches of satellites since the Ariane V70 failure in December 1994 have forced Indonesia, whose Palapa C1 satellite is manifested on a delayed Ariane flight in October, to look elsewhere for an accelerated launch of its C2 spacecraft within six months of the launch of the C1.
Negotiations for the C2 launch had been conducted with Arianespace.
Source: Flight International