Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!hplabs!sri-unix!glenn@ll-vlsi From: glenn%ll-vlsi@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space Subject: none Message-ID: <753@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Sun, 5-Aug-84 02:57:04 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.753 Posted: Sun Aug 5 02:57:04 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 6-Aug-84 05:45:14 EDT Lines: 20 Subject: Ariane 3 launch successful The Arianespace/European Space Agency successfully lauched the first Ariane 3 rocket today (Aug 4) at about 10:30 am after a 90 minute hold due to minor problems according to the British Broadcasting Corp. This launch placed two satellites in orbit, the Eutelsat ECS-2 and the French Telecoom 1, both commsats. Total lauch weight to geosync orbit of the Ariane 3 is about 2500 kilos. This makes the Ariane very competative with the shuttle for geosync orbits at this time. This is the eighth Ariane launch. Inspite of the comment made by someone a few weeks ago in this net the Ariane has never "blown up on the pad". It has had 2 failures, one in the booster quite late in the first stage flight, and once in the third stage. Actually the failures of the upper stages on the shuttle, and the success of today's launch has raised the possibility that the shuttle may have higher insurance rates placed on launches from it compared to the Ariane. Not good for the shuttle as this gives more evidence for those that say the single launch bosters are better. Glenn Chapman