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

To: Valueman who wrote (5311)	2/9/1999 10:57:00 AM
From: Jeff Vayda	Respond to of 10852

Vman: here is text on the continued Telsatr 6 delays. Launch of Telstar 6 delayed by computer glitch MOSCOW - Launch of the Telstar 6 communication satellite scheduled for Jan. 30 has been delayed at least two and a half weeks due to a computer malfunction in the kick stage of its Proton launch vehicle. The Loral Skynet satellite should have been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the three-stage Proton-K launcher outfitted with a Block DM3 upper stage supplied by Energia Rocket and Space Corp. However, during prelaunch preparations on the pad a problem was discovered in one of channels of on-board computer of the Block DM3. Because the upper stage and the attached satellite are covered by a shroud, fixing the problem will require removal of the rocket from the pad, transporting it back to the assembly and testing building, de-mating the upper stage from the rocket and moving it with the satellite into a clean room, where the shroud can be removed and the failed computer block replaced by a spare. A new launch is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 17. The delay of this year's first Proton mission may cast some doubt on the feasibility of Proton-builder Khrunichev's ambitious plans for 1999. According to the Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine, the overall list of payloads earmarked for this year includes as many as 23 launches. However, it is recognized to be a "wish list" rather than a firm manifest because available production capacity and capabilities of the launch facility can't support more than 12 Proton missions during 1999. ....(manifest) includes 12 commercial communications satellites for foreign customers and 11 Russian payloads. The Russian payloads include five launches for the Russian Space Agency, four for the Ministry of Defense, one governmental payload, the user of which is not clear, and one dual payload for a commercial customer, Gascom company. In 1999 Khrunichev plans to introduce its own Briz-M upper stage which Khrunichev plans as an eventual replacement for Energia's Block DM series upper stages. The Briz-M should debut with MOD's Raduga communications satellite this spring and continue with Lockheed Martin-Intersputnik's LMI-1 in the summer.