Tim Furniss/LONDON
THE COMMERCIAL success of the Hughes Space and Communications three-axis stabilised HS-601 satellite bus has been further boosted with the 42nd order for the spacecraft. Japan's Space Communications (SCC) has purchased the satellite, to be called Superbird C, for launch in early 1997 (Flight International, 8-14 March).
The Superbird C is the first Hughes satellite to be supplied to SCC. It will carry 24-Ku band transponders to provide television and business communications services to Japan. Four previous Superbirds were supplied by Space Systems Loral.
Hughes has now won contracts to build seven communications satellites in 1995; the ASC 1 and 2 for Afro Asian Satellite Communications; Societe Europeenne des Satellite with the Astra 1G; and three NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS H, I and J).
Eighteen HS-601 satellites have been launched, two of which were lost in launch failures, since the first contracts were received from Australia and the US Navy in 1988.
Of the 24 satellites remaining to be launched, 15 have been assigned launchers (eight Atlas, six Ariane and one Proton) and include six US Navy UHF Follow-On satellites, UHF F/O 5-10. Ten of the satellites, are scheduled to be launched this year, with the American Mobile Communications Satellite's MSAT 2, being the next to lift off on 31 March.
Hughes has also received a contract to supply an HS-376 satellite to Asia Pacific Telecommunications. The ApStar 1A is due for launch in 1996. The spacecraft will be Hughes' 46th HS-376 spin-stabilised model. The ApStar 1, also a HS-376, was launched in July 1994.
The Apstar 1A, which will be equipped with 24 C-band transponders, has been ordered to cover the delay in replacing the ApStar 2, an HS-601 spacecraft, which was lost in the Long March 2E failure on 26 January.
Source: Flight International