HUGHES SPACE and Communications continues its role as sole builder of Mexico's communications satellites by winning the contract to build the Morelos 3, which will be launched in 1998. The company built the Morelos 1 and 2, launched in 1995, and two Solidaridad craft placed in orbit in 1993 and 1994.

Like the Solidaridad, the Morelos 3 will be an HS-601 model, but will be a high-power version, using gallium-arsenide solar cells, providing 8kW of power. The Morelos 3 will carry 24 C-band and Ku-band transponders. A launcher has not been selected.

Hughes has expressed confidence in China's launch vehicles despite the failure of a Long March 3 to place its $128 million ChinaSat 7 into a correct orbit after launch on 18 August. The company has one more formal launch booking with China.

Chief executive Michael Armstrong says: "We believe that the Chinese can be a long-term provider of launch services." One of the Hughes satellites lost in a Chinese launch failure was the Optus B2 in December 1992.

The cause of the disintegration of the Long March 2E booster has never been announced. China Great Wall Industry has declared, however, that the Hughes HS-601 satellite "exploded".

Source: Flight International

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