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Technology Stocks : Loral Space & Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Valueman who wrote (2322)	3/24/1998 3:24:00 AM
From: ccryder	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10852

I echo Valueman's sentiments on the Russian space agency's capability to deliver. From my somewhat inside view of the situation, my reservation is probably more from the political side than from a technical side. The Zenit launch vehicle was designed for military launches in an era when there was nothing spared in the design. Since then the economic situation has eroded not to mention the political situation as of yesterday. The Russian engineers, including recent graduates are top notch and on the average better trained than US counterparts, and this engineering is available at a very deep discount when paid in dollars. IMO, if a customer is willing to pay, the Russians can deliver. But it does behoove the customer to spend the time with them to understand where additional resources are needed. So the customer plays a very important role in risk mitigation. I also will be quite nervous, and Readware is quite correct, IMO, when he says that the first Zenit launch is a pivotal point in the deployment of the G* constellation. I think the market is also pricing LOR considering the risks and this presents the investor with an opportunity for quick response to a higher than average risk and commensurate higher than average reward situation.

To: Valueman who wrote (2322)	3/24/1998 4:03:00 PM
From: Snake	Respond to of 10852

Valueman, I am sure you are aware of the Boeing Sea Launch program based on the Zenit II launch vehicle scheduled for first launch this fall sometime. I have a certain amount of skepticism in the Zenit II launch vehicle, but do have confidence in SS/L's ability to pull it off. Also, the Boeing partnership is a pretty big deal, and I would Imagine that Boeing is doing all it can to ensure the Zenit II can do the job. I would like to see a few more Zenit II launches or test launches of the Sea Launch vehicle to ease my concerns more, but I am also planning on hedging come July just in case. Below is a link to Sea Launch page discussing the Zenit II vehicle and how it relates to Sea Launch. Loral and Hughes have both reserved space on the Sea Launch vehicles and I believe Hughes is sending the satellite in the fall. boeing.com