RUSSIA'S Informcosmos organisation has taken back control of two orbiting communications satellites which US operator Rimsat claims to have "fully paid for". The satellites operate in geostationary orbit for Southeast Asian customers.
Informcosmos, which Rimsat believes is working with the support of the Russian Space Agency and Intersputnik, has told customers of the US operator that they must sign new contracts with the Russian Company, or face shutdown. The US Federal Court is attempting to block the action, and the US Government is trying to persuade Informcosmos to negotiate a settlement.
The argument results from tenuous legal agreements made when Rimsat received permission to use the orbital slots originally assigned to a planned Tongasat satellite.
Rimsat initially leased transponders on the Informcosmos Gorizont 17 in 1993 and then leased the Gorizont 29 and 30 satellites - launched as the Rimsats 1 and 2 in November 1993 and May 1994.
Rimsat says that it has now purchased for $20 million the Gorizont satellites in orbit - generating revenues worth $12 million a year with Asian cable television and telephone companies.
Its agreement with Informcosmos (a consortium of satellite and communications companies) includes the launch of four Express satellites, the first of which was launched in October 1994, but not used by Rimsat.
The US company expected its first Express spacecraft to be delivered in orbit in early 1995, with further launches this year and next. Intelsat also plans to lease three Express satellites.
Rimsat believes that Informcosmos is having difficulty in raising funds to develop the Express. It already owes Rimsat a $6.7 million refund for the late delivery of the first Express, to be used by the company. Informcosmos cannot confirm when the satellite will be launched. An additional $5 million refund for late delivery is being waived by Rimsat.
Informcosmos is demanding that Rimsat pay an additional $780,000 for lease of the Gorizont 17 transponders. Rimsat has responded, saying that Informcosmos can take that amount from the $6.7 million its owes the company.
Source: Flight International
