SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS017
ARLS017 Phase 3D delayed

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QST de W1AW
Space Bulletin 017  ARLS017
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  December 19, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS017
ARLS017 Phase 3D delayed

The European Space Agency has announced a launch delay for Ariane
502, the rocket that is supposed to carry Phase 3D. AMSAT-NA
Executive Vice President Keith Baker, KB1SF, reports that the launch
has been pushed back to ''early July,'' but said a specific launch
date was not yet available. ESA said the change resulted from the
recent establishment of a ''detailed timetable'' that's required to
permit launch.

A brief ESA news release said: ''As each individual operation will
require very close analysis, the 502 campaign is scheduled to begin
on Wednesday 9 April 1997, the launch itself being planned for early
July.''

''We'll be ready,'' said Baker, adding that the new schedule will
give AMSAT ''a little more time to make things right.'' The Phase 3D
satellite itself is under assembly in Orlando, Florida. Baker said
there's still a lot of work to be done, but the project was on
schedule for an April launch. The new launch schedule means that the
Phase 3D satellite will not be operational until September or
October.

''Obviously we would like to have the satellite in orbit a lot
sooner,'' said Baker. ''But we don't want anything to be launched if
it's not ready.''
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