Arianespace moves DirecTV launch to Sea Launch
Posted: Fri, Oct 31, 2003, 11:56 AM ET (1656 GMT)
Arianespace announced late Thursday that it has shifted the launch of a DirecTV satellite early next year from an Ariane 5 to Sea Launch, marking the first use of a mutual backup agreement. Arianespace said that it would be unable to launch DirecTV 7S in early 2004 because of conflicts "with a dedicated scientific mission", most like ESA's Rosetta comet mission. Several other issues also caused problems, including delays building the satellite by Space Systems/Loral, a backlogged Ariane manifest, and DirecTV's desire to have the satellite launched as soon as possible. Instead, the satellite will be launched in the first quarter of 2004 on a Zenit 3SL operated by Sea Launch. The shift marks the first invocation of a "launch services alliance" among Arianespace, Sea Launch, and Mitsubishi, which markets the H-2A booster. The alliance was formally announced this summer.
Arianespace announced late Thursday that it has shifted the launch of a DirecTV satellite early next year from an Ariane 5 to Sea Launch, marking the first use of a mutual backup agreement. Arianespace said that it would be unable to launch DirecTV 7S in early 2004 because of conflicts "with a dedicated scientific mission", most like ESA's Rosetta comet mission. Several other issues also caused problems, including delays building the satellite by Space Systems/Loral, a backlogged Ariane manifest, and DirecTV's desire to have the satellite launched as soon as possible. Instead, the satellite will be launched in the first quarter of 2004 on a Zenit 3SL operated by Sea Launch. The shift marks the first invocation of a "launch services alliance" among Arianespace, Sea Launch, and Mitsubishi, which markets the H-2A booster. The alliance was formally announced this summer.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, October 10
NASA and Blue Origin are about to launch two spacecraft to Mars
BBC — 7:17 am ET (1117 GMT) U.S. Space Force Sets Next SDA Launch For Oct. 14
Aviation Week — 7:13 am ET (1113 GMT) JD Vance Should Take the Moon Shot
National Review — 7:12 am ET (1112 GMT) Kazakhstan’s first woman space tourist returns to Earth
Kursiv Media — 7:10 am ET (1110 GMT) First Kazakh Woman in Space Returns to Earth on Blue Origin Flight
The Times of Central Asia — 7:09 am ET (1109 GMT) |
