CHINA鈥橲 space programme suffered another setback last week as two of its
commercial customers tore up the contracts to launch their satellites on Chinese
Long March rockets.
The decisions follow a series of troubled launches for the rockets. The most
recent blew up on 15 February, destroying a $125-million satellite owned
by Intelsat (鈥淓xploding China鈥檚 dreams鈥�, New 杏吧原创, 16 March, p
14).
Intelsat was due to launch two satellites on Long March rockets in 1997, but
last week announced that they will now fly on Lockheed Martin鈥檚 Atlas
launcher.
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Intelsat is hoping to avoid a legal challenge from China by reconsidering
Chinese rockets to carry its next generation of satellites, which are due for
launch in 2000.
Also last week, Hong Kong-owned Asiasat revealed it will launch its Asiasat 3
satellite aboard a Russian rocket in 1997. The satellite was expected to fly on
a Long March rocket like all its predecessors.