ARG@SU-AI.ARPA (08/23/84)
From: Ron Goldman <ARG@SU-AI.ARPA>
a004 2149 16 Aug 84
AM-Shuttle-Satellite Retrieval,390
Shuttle Crew To Retrieve Satellite Placed In Wrong Orbit
By HOWARD BENEDICT
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A space shuttle flight in November will
attempt to retrieve an Indonesian communications satellite that fired
into the wrong orbit last February, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration announced Thursday.
Astronaut Joseph Allen, maneuvering with a rocket-powered back pack,
will leave the shuttle, attach himself to the satellite with a
latching pole and hold the payload steady so it can be grasped by the
shuttle's robot arm.
The satellite, Palapa B2, will be berthed in the cargo bay and
returned to Earth for repair and resale by two insurance
organizations, Merritt Syndicates Ltd., London, and International
Technology Underwriters (Intec), Washington, D.C.
The Indoneisian government has signed over all recovery and salvage
rights for Palapa B2 to Merritt and Intec, its principal insurance
underwriters. Indonesia received a $75 million insurance payment for
the loss of the satellite.
Palapa B2 and Western Union's Westar 6 communications satellite were
released from the cargo bay of space shuttle Challenger last
February, but both were injected into useless orbits when rocket
nozzles failed as onboard motors fired to boost them toward stationary
orbits 22,300 miles high.
Western Union received a $105 million insurance payment and is
negotiating an agreement with Merritt Syndicate that could lead to a
retrieval of Westar 6 on the same November shuttle mission.
Indonesia and Western Union each paid Hughes Communications
International $35 million to $40 million for the satellites. They also
took out insurance for launch costs and loss of business in case of
failure.
Refurbishment and resale of Palapa B2 and possibly Westar 6 would
help offset the payments made by the insurance companies.
Under the Palapa B2 agreement announced Thursday, the insurance
underwriters will pay NASA the costs for the retrieval, with the price
not to exceed $4.8 million.
Palapa B2 is an an orbit ranging from 700 to 800 miles high, and it
would have to be lowered to an altitude of 200 miles to be within the
range of space shuttle Discovery. That would be done by ground
commands to the satellite's steering jets.
The flight would be the second for Discovery, now awaiting an Aug.
29 liftoff of its twice-delayed maiden flight. Commanding the
retrieval mission in November will be astronaut Fred Hauck.
ap-ny-08-17 0049EDT
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