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Satellite News NA v1.1
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From: Gary Torrens <71165.2032@compuserve.com>
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Date: 10 Jul 96 13:46:16 EDT
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Wed Jul 10 13: 50:51 1996
Satellite News
from America
V1.1 1 July 1996
This news is co-sponsored by TELE-Satellit and Satellite Journal Itl.
ARIANESPACE FLIGHT 87
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The launch from the Europe's Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana was carried out by an Ariane 44P, the version
of the European launcher equipped with four solid-propellant
strap-on boosters.
Lift-off took place on Saturday, June 15, at:
3:55 a.m. local time in Kourou,
or 2:55 a.m. in Washington D.C. (EDT),
or 6:55 a.m. GMT,
or 8:55 a.m. in Paris.
Flight 87 is the 6th Arianespace launch this year, and
Intelsat 709 is the 13th satellite that the International
Telecommunications Satellite Organisation has entrusted to
the European launcher. Arianespace is slated to launch four
more Intelsat satellites in the coming years.
Intelsat 709 is the ninth and last in the series of
Intelsat VII/VIIA satellites developed by Space
Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, California. Integration and
testing of these satellites was carried out by Aerospatiale
at its Cannes facilities. Weighing 3,420 kg (7,524 lb.) at
lift-off, Intelsat 709 has 26 C-band transponders and 10 Ku-
band transponders, giving it a capacity of 18,000 telephone
lines in multiplex digital mode, as well as 3 television
channels. Positioned over the Atlantic Ocean, it will
provide international telephone links and TV transmission
services for North and South America, Europe and Africa.
Flight 501 Failure
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The first Ariane-5 launch took place on Tuesday, 4 June
1996, from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport, at
Kourou in French Guiana. The launcher was carrying the
European Space Agency's four Cluster satellites, a science
mission to study Earth-Sun interactions.
Following nominal ignition of the Vulcain engine (HO) at
12.33.59 hours GMT, the flight proceeded as follows:
- HO + 7.5 s : Ignition of solid booster stages and
normal lift-off.
- Up to HO = 37 s : Flight guidance and trajectory
normal. At this moment the velocity of the launcher was Mach
0.7 (857 kph) and its altitude 3500 m.
- HO + 37 s to HO + 39 s :Sudden swivelling of both solid
booster nozzles up to the limit, recorded by telemetry. This
caused the launcher to tilt sharply, given rise to intense
aerodynamic loads on the launcher structure resulting in
breakage.
Following loss of launcher integrity, destruction of all
launcher elements by the onboard neutralisation system.
Preliminary analysis of the telemetry data confirms that the
propulsion stages (solid boosters and cryogenic main stage)
functioned correctly. The direction of inquiry is tending
towards the launcher's "electrical and software system"
An independent inquiry board is being set up by ESA and CNES
to determine the causes of the failure and propose
corrective action. It will be asked to report by 15 July.
Intelsat Opens Regional Centre In Singapore
-------------------------------------------
INTELSAT will open a regional centre in Singapore to meet
the telecommunications needs of the Asian region. The
regional centre will be operational as of 1 August 1996.
This is INTELSAT's second centre outside the U.S., following
the opening of its regional centre in Mumbai (Bombay), India
earlier this year, and represents the Organisation'
commitment to the Asian region. The international co-
operative also plans to open regional centres in London
later in 1996 and in Africa in early 1997.
PAS-6 Satellite Begins Tests
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Performing tests of the PAS-6 Atlantic Ocean Region
satellite are underway at the Space Systems/Loral
manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California. The
spacecraft level testing, much of which is conducted under
conditions simulating the operating environment in orbit,
offers the first opportunity to evaluate fully integrated
satellite performance. Testing of PAS-6 is expected to
continue for several months in preparation for the
satellite's launch in December 1996.
PAS-6 is the second of three PanAmSat satellites that the
partnership of The Globo Organisation, Grupo Televisa S.A.,
The News Corporation Limited, and Tele-Communications
International, Inc. will use to provide DTH services
throughout Latin America. After utilising interim capacity
on PanAmSat's PAS-3 satellite, the DTH partnership will use
48 transponders on the PAS-5 and PAS-6 satellites to deliver
hundreds of television channels to subscriber households
throughout Latin America. PAS-5, scheduled for launch in mid-
1997, is also under construction.
MGM and Encore International form MGM Gold
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Laying the groundwork for the August 1996 rollout of Asia's
first studio-branded, movie and Hollywood-entertainment
channels and the subsequent launch of other channels, MGM/UA
Telecommunications Group and Encore International have
entered into a 50-50 joint venture to create MGM Gold
Networks (Asia).
The new venture will deliver two channels, MGM Gold and MGM
Superstation, to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
These satellite- and cable-delivered Hollywood entertainment
channels will be built around programming from the MGM and
United Artists library, with additional product to come from
other program suppliers.
Who will buy PanAmSat?
----------------------
PanAmSat founded by the late Mr. Anselmo, who built his
fortune in Spanish-language television, is still looking for
a buyer or partner. Two possible buyers are Hughes and SES.
Hughes was interested when PanAmSat first announced its
desire for a buyer, but has been quiet lately. Hughes's is
one of larger sellers of transponder time in the US, however
it does not have a major world presence.
SES is also interested in a global presence and to expand
into multimedia telecommunications services.
The company has $2 billion in contracts and an expected
asking price of $1 billion
MSNBC To Debut Monday, July 15
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MSNBC, the 24-hour news, talk and information network from
NBC News and Microsoft, will debut Monday, July 15. At 9:00
am ET, MSNBC will sign-on from the cable network's base in
Ft. Lee, NJ and from the interactive operation's base in
Redmond, WA to begin delivering news of the day, dynamic
discussion of topical events and exclusive feature stories
on cable and the Internet.
MSNBC will debut initially with 14 hours of original
programming each day. The number of original program hours
will continue to increase as the network expands.
In the network's initial weeks, MSNBC will include extensive
reporting on the stories developing at the 1996 Summer
Olympics in Atlanta, the Democratic and Republican
Presidential conventions and the entire election campaign.
MSNBC Program Schedule (Galaxy 1 Transponder 10)
(As of July 15, 1996)
MSNBC Daytime Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm Saturday, Sunday,6am-7pm
Time and Again Monday-Friday, 7-8pm, 2-3am*, 6-7am*
Internight Monday-Saturday, 8-9pm Monday-Friday,11pm-12am*,
4-5am*, 8-9am* Saturday, 3-4am*
The News with Brian Williams Monday-Friday, 9-10pm 12-1am*, 3-4am*
e Site Monday-Friday, 10-11pm, 1-2am*, 5-6am*, 7-8am*
Hockenberry Saturday, 7-8pm, 11pm-12am*, 2-3am*, 5-6am*
Sunday, 7-8pm*, 11pm-12am*, 2-3am*, 5-6am*
The News with Brian Williams Weekend Edition
Saturday, 9-10pm, 12-1am* Sunday,9-10pm*, 12-1am*
The Site Weekend Edition Saturday, 10-11pm, 1-2am*, 4-5am*
Sunday, 10-11pm*, 1-2am*
Internight Weekend Edition Sunday, 8-9pm, 3-4am*
All times ET/Programming schedule subject to change
Washington Watch
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-- Orion Atlantic has filed an application with FCC for
modification of its international communication satellite to
be located at 47 W.L. (Orion F-2). The modification
proposes to incorporate two new beams_the South America
North (SAN) beam and the South America South (SAS) beam_into
the satellite design. The SAN beam would provide service to
Mexico, the Caribbean and northern portions of South
America. The SAS beam would provide service to the southern
portions of South America. With inclusion of these beams,
the frequency plan for South America will include the
expanded Ku-band uplink frequencies of 13.75-14.0 GHz. The
centre frequencies of the 54 MHz transponders have been
modified due to an increase in the transponder guard bands
from 6 MHz to 9 MHz.
-- Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. has filed an FCC
application to construct, launch and operate Galaxy XI(I)
satellite as part of the Galaxy Satellite System. Hughes
proposes to operate the Galaxy XI(I) satellite at 91 W.L.
in the 13.75-14.0, 11.45-11.7, 14.0-14.5 and 11.7-12.2 GHz
frequency bands. The satellite will be equipped with two Ku-
band payloads: one will provide coverage to South America in
the 14.0-14.5 GHz and 11.7-12.2 GHz frequency bands and the
other will provide coverage to North America, the Caribbean,
South America and Central America in the 13.75-14.0 GHz and
11.45-11.70 GHz frequency bands, commonly referred to as the
"extended" Ku-band. The satellite will be contain forty-
eight (48) 27 MHz transponders. Hughes proposes to offer
programming distribution, VSAT service, video backhaul,
teleconferencing and high-speed image transmissions.
-- PanAmSat filed amendments to its application to construct,
launch and operate its PAS-8 and PAS-21 separate
international communications satellites. These amendments
provide the additional showing required for application of
the two-step financial standard to PanAmSat's pending
applications for new satellites.
PanAmSat Licensee Corporation also has filed amendments to
its application to construct, launch and operate its PAS-12
and PAS-13 separate international communications satellites.
These amendments modify the financial qualifications
provided the applications for PAS-12 and PAS-13.
News Corp. Plans JSkyB
Rupert Murdoch said he is planning to launch JSkyB in Japan
in two years with at least 100 channels. Star TV, uplinked
from Hong Kong, started a digital channel for Japan on April
1. The channel, STAR Plus, already has 400,000 subscribers
through 60 Japanese cable companies. Another channel showing
movies is planned for December. The service is likely to use
a current Japanese satellite, migrating to BS-4, due to
launch in 2000.
Proton Rocket Selected For Astra 1G Satellite Launch
Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) has confirmed that a
Proton rocket will launch its ASTRA 1G broadcast satellite
in the second quarter of 1997.
The selection of Proton for launch of ASTRA 1G follows the
successful launch of ASTRA 1F on April 9, the first
commercial Proton launch under the auspices of ILS and the
first launch of a U.S.-built satellite from Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
"SES made space history in April by becoming the first
western company to launch on the Russian Proton," said
Charles H. Lloyd, president - Proton Division, ILS. "We are
pleased that SES' dual-launch strategy includes ongoing
business with ILS and Proton."
ASTRA 1G will be SES' seventh satellite to be copositioned
at 19.2 degrees East, adding 16 transponders for digital
transmissions at that location. SES, a Luxembourg-based
company, is a prime provider of direct-to-home television
and radio services to Europe through its ASTRA system. The
satellite is an HS 601 model built by Hughes Space and
Communications Company based in Los Angeles, California.
In Brief
" Arianespace is close to a marketing deal with
Russia's Soyuz to give it a foothold in the launch of small
satellites.
" Nickelodeon filed suit against German media
authorities for rejecting its application to broadcast on
various cable systems. Authorities in Bremen, Germany say
they are reserving the limited space on its cable system for
a new children's channel planned by ARD and ZDF.
" MCI and News Corp. have asked the Federal
Communications Commission to block TCI's plan to beam TV
programs to U.S. homes and businesses using Canadian
satellites. MCI and News Corp. together spent $683 million
on U.S. licenses to offer so-called direct-broadcast service
in a joint venture. They have complained that Canada doesn't
allow access to U.S. providers and that it would be unfair
to allow TCI to escape paying U.S. auction and regulatory
fees.
" Tele-Communications Inc., said it is in negotiations
to carry the 24- hour cable news network planned by News
Corp.'s Fox Network.
" The Computer Television Network (CTVN) will be
broadcasting 24 hours a day beginning July 1, 1996. The new
channel will review hardware, software and services for the
computer user, helping you get the most out of your personal
computer, whether you use it for business, pleasure, or
education. CTVN will be on the new Hughes Galaxy IX
Satellite at 123 degrees.
" BSkyB has won the television rights to England's home
rugby union internationals in a five-year-deal worth 87.5
million pounds ($134.2 million). Under the terms of the
deal, BSkyB has snapped up exclusive live rights to England
home matches at Twickenham from 1997-98 to the 2001-02
season. It will also have the rights to all English domestic
club rugby for five years from 1996-97.
" The Brazilian cable television company TVA (Abril
group) has launched the satellite cable system (direct to
home) for which it is charging R$50 per month to
subscribers, to bear the additional costs of R$900 for a
dish and decoder to receive the signals from the Galaxy IIIR
satellite. It will operate with equipment supplied by CCE
and Evadin. TVA's competitor Globosat (Globo) is also to
offer a similar service from August onwards, with initial
costs of R$800 for equipment (decoder, dish) produced by
Gradiente.
" BSkyB's pre-tax profits rose in 1995 by 67 million
to 237 million in 1995.
" The Hong Kong government has approved a license to
APT Satellite for an earth station to control and monitor
its new satellite APSTAR-1A. The satellite will be launched
by a Long March rocket between July 2 to 4.
" Canal Plus reports it has signed up 60,000
subscribers for its new digital satellite television system,
about twice as many as expected. The new system began April
27. Canal Plus his projecting 150,000 to 200,000 subscribers
for the system by year end.
" Indonesia a loan from the Deutche Morgan Grenfell
through the Export-Import Bank of the United States. It has
authorised $136 million in financing to support the launch
the two Palapa C series satellites
" Three bids on a new satellite to replace Mexico's
Morelos II, were placed by Lockheed-Martin , Hughes Space &
Communications and Space Systems/Loral. The winner will be
announced later next month . Morelos II launched Nov. 27,
1985 is due to be mothballed in late 1998.
" China's is set to resume launching satellites next
month. A Long March 3 rocket will launch Apstar-1A
satellite from the Xichang space base in Sichuan province.
Unlike the LM3B, the LM3 has been used more than 10 times
without a failure.
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without the prior written authority of Satellite Journal International
Copyright 1996
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