AMSAT The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NUMBER 96-01 February 6, 1996 PHASE 3-D SHOCK TESTING SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED ================================================= A series of Qualification Shock Tests have been successfully completed for the Phase 3-D Specific Bearing Structure (SBS). The SBS is the structure that will be used to carry the Phase 3-D spacecraft to orbit during launch. These tests were conducted during the week of January 29-February 2, 1996 by members of the Phase 3-D International Satellite Project team in cooperation with personnel at the US Air Force's LMSIL Survivability and Vulnerability Integration Center at Little Mountain, Utah. The tests exposed the P3-D SBS structure to the shock environment that is expected to be encountered on the Ariane 5 vehicle during launch. Following the shock exposure tests the operational performance of the spacecraft's separation system (in full-up, flight configuration) was also successfully demonstrated. The success of both of these tests has confirmed that the Phase 3-D SBS design will withstand both the launch environment as well as to insure the P3-D spacecraft will separate cleanly from the SBS after launch. The International Phase 3-D Project Team is indebted to the Little Mountain Facility personnel for their outstanding assistance in completing these important tests. AMSAT is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) educational and scientific organization that was first chartered in Washington, DC, USA. Its objectives include promoting space research and communication by building, launching and controlling Amateur Radio spacecraft. Since its founding, over 25 years ago, many other like-minded organizations have been formed around the world to pursue the same goals and who now also share the AMSAT name. Often acting together, these groups have used predominantly volunteer labor and donated resources to design, construct and, with the added assistance of government and commercial space agencies, successfully launch, over two dozen Amateur Radio communications satellites into Earth orbit. The Phase 3-D satellite, now under construction with the help of over a dozen AMSAT groups on five continents, will be the largest, most complex, and most expensive Amateur Radio satellite ever built. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ============================= In North America: AMSAT-North America Keith Baker, KB1SF; Executive Vice President 1324 Fairgrounds Road Xenia, Ohio 45385-9514 USA Phone/Fax: 513-429-5325 Internet: "kb1sf@amsat.org" In Europe: AMSAT-Germany Werner Haas, DJ5KQ; Vice President Holderstrauch 10 D-35041 Marburg, Germany Phone: (06421) 684121 Fax: (06421) 285665 Internet: "dj5kq@amsat.org" -30-