Spacelift Washington Newsbriefs 19 July 2000

GE Americom Communications has chosen Alcatel Space to build four telecommunications satellites. Alcatel will use the Spacebus design for the satellites, the company announced from their Paris offices. Alcatel has used Arianespace and International Launch Services (ILS) launch providers for previous GEO contracts.

Arianespace has moved Mission V-131 to a launch campaign for liftoff on August 17th. The Ariane 4 booster will orbit the Brazilian B4 and Egyptian Nilesat 102 satellites as dual payloads. The launch campaign replaces the Ariane 5 V-130 mission which has been delayed for vehicle checks.

Sea Launch Mission 4 is on track for launch July 28th as the flotilla of launch and related ships, including the Sea Launch Commander, reaches day #4 of its voyage to Longitude 154 degrees West at the equator. The Sea Launch Zenit booster will carry the PAS-9 communications satellite.

Congress can assist Entrepreneurial Commercial Space Firms with new Tax-Free Bonds, a House subcommittee was told July 18th. Former House Science committee chair Robert Walker told the House Space Subcommittee financial pitfalls to commercial space could be lessened by such government aid. The hearing was webcast from the Rayburn House Building.

SPACELIFT WASHINGTON Newsbriefs © 2000 by Aerospace FYI Inc.