RSF@SU-AI.ARPA (06/11/84)
From: Ross Finlayson <RSF@SU-AI.ARPA>
a274 1821 09 Jun 84
AM-Satellite Launch, 1st Ld - Writethru, a266,540
URGENT
Eds: Rewrites throughout to note that NASA not attempting to salvage
satellite, adds comments from NASA and ITSO, background on other
failed satellites. No pickup.
By HOWARD BENEDICT
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A $30 million international
communications satellite tumbled out of control after it was launched
over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday and NASA officials said there was no
way to save it.
The rocket, which was launched by a new ''stretched'' model of the
Atlas-Centaur rocket, lifted on schedule at 7:03 p.m. EDT and
everything went well for 23 minutes when suddenly the Centaur upper
stage went out of control. The launch control center reported the
Centaur and the attached satellite were tumbling.
John Gibbs, Atlas-Centaur project manager, told a news conference an
hour after the failure that officials don't know what went wrong.
''If we have this wrapped up in six weeks to two months we'll be
doing well,'' Gibbs said, adding that the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration would have to analyze data relayed from the
rocket.
The two attached vehicles were in an orbit ranging from 93 miles to
759 miles above the Earth, NASA officials reported. The intent was to
place the satellite in a stationary orbit 22,300 miles high.
Officials said the rocket and satellite eventually would burn up
from friction because of the low orbit, but NASA could not estimate
when.
The failure occurred when the rocket was in contact with a tracking
station on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. It would take
several days to fly the data tapes back from the island, NASA said. A
review board has been set up to study the failure.
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization paid
NASA $60 million to launch the satellite. With 12,000 voice channels
and two color television channels, it was to have joined 15 other
satellites currently serving the 108-nation organization.
''Obviously, we're disappointed about the failure,'' said Allan
McCaskill, a representative of the international organization.
He said the organization had insured the launch for $102 million
with a consortium of insurance companies. The organization paid a $10
million premium for the insurance.
It was the 62nd launch of an Atlas-Centaur rocket, but the first for
the new lengthened model. The body of the first-stage Atlas had been
extended 81 inches, allowing the booster to carry an additional 15
tons of fuel and to place an extra 500 pounds in orbit.
The Atlas performed flawlessly during the 4 1/2 minutes it operated
Saturday night.
The Centaur separated successfully from the Atlas and the upper
stage fired as planned for 10 minutes, then shut down and coasted for
seven minutes.
During this coast period that something went wrong and when it came
time for the seven-minute refire of the Centaur rocket, the engine
ignited but burned for only about four seconds before shutting down.
At that point, NASA's launch control center reported the rocket and
satellite were tumbling and there was no way to save them.
It was the first satellite launch failure at Cape Canaveral since
August 1977 when another Atlas-Centaur malfunctioned. Two
communication satellites carried on the 10th shuttle flight in
February were placed in wrong orbits when their rocket motors
misfired. NASA is studying plans to retrieve and repair them in space.
ap-ny-06-09 2121EDT
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