AMSAT
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE						NUMBER 96-03
								JUNE 6, 1996

ARIANE 501 FLIGHT FAILS
=======================

Several news accounts have reported that the first flight test of the
Ariane 5 launch vehicle was destroyed by ground-based command 40 seconds
into the flight at an altitude of about 12,000 feet (4,000 meters) as it
appeared that the rocket was veering off course.  The launch was initiated
at 1233 Universal Time June 4, from the European Space Agency's Kourou
launch facility in French Guiana, South America.  Ariane 501 carried a
group of four scientific satellites known as "Cluster" which were, of
course, destroyed as well.  No Amateur Radio satellites were aboard.

The AMSAT Phase 3D spacecraft, currently under construction, is manifested
on the second flight test of the Ariane 5 series (Ariane 502) which,
according to ESA's latest schedule, is to be launched in October of this
year.  AMSAT officials believe that it is too early to know what effect
the Ariane 501 failure will have on the 502 schedule, or on the possible
Phase 3D launch date, or the vehicle on which it will ride.  However, a
schedule stretch out beyond the re-entry of AO-13 cannot be ruled out.

AMSAT-DL President Karl Meinzer DJ4ZC and AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan
W3XO, expressed their sadness on hearing the news.  In a joint statement
they said, "We, at AMSAT, have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship
with ESA for over fifteen years and we are, quite naturally, distressed to
hear of this unfortunate occurrence." They further noted that, except for
the RS and Fuji satellites, all successful amateur satellite launches
since the early 1980s have been on Ariane vehicles.  On behalf of the
Amateur Radio satellite community, they extend sincere condolences to ESA,
ArianeSpace, CNES and the Cluster Project.  Both expressed confidence,
however, that the ESA team will overcome this setback and develop a most
successful launch vehicle.  DJ4ZC and W3XO said that they are together in
anticipating a successful launch of Phase 3D on a forthcoming Ariane
mission.

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"

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