Space Systems Loral has been forced to delay shipment of the Chinasat 8 communications satellite for launch aboard a Chinese Long March 3B because of new rules on the export of US space technology.
China's state satellite operator could go elsewhere for the satellite, with European companies Matra Marconi Space and Alcatel likely choices. If the contract is lost and the launch cancelled, Loral will lose more than $130 million.
Hughes Space and Communications was similarly penalised in March by the stringent US Government satellite export rules, when an export licence was refused for the shipment of the Asia Pacific Mobile Telecommunications satellite for launch in China (Flight International, 3-9 March).
If the contract with Hughes is cancelled, the company will lose an estimated $450 million. Hughes has six other satellites and five options for Long March 3B launches, while Loral has five bookings on Long March 2Es.
Source: Flight International
