Tim Furniss/LONDON
FALLING DEBRIS FROM the explosion of the Long March 2E after its launch from Xichang, in Sichuan province, south-west China on 26 January (Flight International, 1-7 February), killed six people and injured 23 inhabitants of a hilly area 7km (4 miles) downrange.
These were the first known ground fatalities suffered during a satellite launch failure, apart from a Cuban cow killed in 1960 by parts of a crashing US rocket.
Despite the 2E failure, which resulted in the loss of the ApStar 2 satellite, the USA and China signed a seven-year agreement on 30 January, which allows China to conduct 11 launches for international clients, between now and 31 December 2001, provided that China charges prices "on a par" with Western launchers. The cause of the crash has not yet been announced.
China says that it will still conduct other launches planned this year, including those of the Asiasat 2 and Echostar 1 communications satellites, in July and October, respectively.
Asiasat says that it may delay the July launch until the cause of the 2E failure is fully known and corrective measures taken, if necessary.
Four more China commercial-satellite launches are manifested for 1996 for the new Long March 3B booster, which is expected to be launched on a proving flight this year. These are Echostar 2 and Intelsats 708, 801 and 805.
Asia Pacific Communications says, that it plans to order a replacement for the Hughes HS-601 ApStar 2, as soon as possible. Another HS-601 would take two years to deliver, but Asia Pacific could go elsewhere to meet its requirement.
Source: Flight International
