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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