Tim Furniss/LONDON
A LOCKHEED MARTIN Atlas 2A booster was launched from Cape Canaveral on 7 April, carrying American Mobile Satellite's (AMSC) first satellite, the MSAT.
Designated the MSAT 2, this 2,720kg Hughes HS-601 spacecraft, together with the MSAT 1 (to be launched by an Ariane 4) will provide seamless, satellite-based mobile and data communications services throughout the USA and Canada.
They will form a communications umbrella to complement cellular services.
AMSC is a joint venture between a US company of the same name, which operates the MSAT 2, and Canada's TMI Communications, the successor to Telesat Mobile, which will operate the MSAT 1.
The MSAT spacecraft has the first installation of Hughes' Springback, lightweight, 4.8 x 6.7m graphite, oval, antennae. Canada's Spar Aerospace built the high-power electronic payload for the 16 L-band, 1 Ku-band spacecraft.
The Atlas 2A mission included the 100th Centaur upper-stage flight since 1963 and was Lockheed Martin's fourth commercial Atlas launch this year.
Seven more commercial Atlas flights are manifested for 1995. The company has commitments for 24 further launches, including 19 commercial and five US Air Force missions.
Source: Flight International