News Release from AMSAT(r)
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NUMBER 99-01
May 15, 1999

PHASE 3-D LAUNCH STATUS UPDATE

DAYTON, OHIO (AMSAT News Service)   In a letter dated May 14, 1999
addressed to Dayton Hamvention attendees here, Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC,
Phase 3D Project Leader and AMSAT-DL President, shed new light on the
current launch status of the Phase 3-D International Satellite. Dr.
Meinzer wrote:


Greetings!									May 14, 1999

As you well know, I very much have been looking forward to joining you
for the 1999 Dayton Hamvention.  Unfortunately, recent developments
regarding our launch situation for Phase 3-D have now made it necessary
that I remain here in Germany during your event this upcoming weekend.
  
As many of you know, AMSAT-DL is the principal agency responsible for
securing a safe and affordable launch for Phase 3-D.  Since this
project began, we had secured such a launch opportunity on one of the
ARIANE 5 test flights, which were conducted under the control of the
European Space agency (ESA).  Unfortunately, this launch agreement for
P3-D with ESA did not work out, essentially due to the failure of the
first ARIANE 5 flight and the resulting aftermath.  Since ESA is not
conducting such flights anymore, I and our team have been working very
hard over the past year or so to find a replacement launch.  We have
been patiently negotiating with a number of different launch agencies,
and it looks now that this work is starting to pay off as it is
beginning to yield results.

I am pleased to report to you that we are currently in the final phase
of working out the details of an agreement for the launch of Phase 3-D
with one of these launch agencies.  At this point, I am very optimistic
and I believe this launch agency is genuinely working very hard toward
providing us a launch for P3-D.  I am also very hopeful that in the
following weeks a launch contract can be closed which contains
conditions we can meet.  The agency has now identified some launches
over the next year or so which have enough performance margin to allow
the inclusion of P3-D in addition to the main payload.  The launcher
business these days has become extremely competitive, and it is has
become nearly impossible for launch agencies to fix their launch-plan
for more than half a year ahead.

Thus, even after our contract is closed, we will remain a "stand-by
passenger".  However,  judging from the presently known plans, they
could...and I emphasize the word could...lead  to a launch of our
satellite as early as of October this year.  Of course, this all
assumes that the remaining open details of our interface with their
launch vehicle can be successfully worked out and that we do not run
into some last-minute problems with our contract. 

Needless to say, I am delighted with this turn of events.  My only
remaining wish is that I could be there in Dayton to share them with
you in person.  Please accept my sincere best wishes for a productive
AMSAT forum at Hamvention and my thanks for your continued patience and
strong support of our efforts.


73,

--signed--

Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC
AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project Leader


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OR CONTACT:

In North America:					

AMSAT-North America		
Dan James, NN0DJ; VP, Public Affairs
P.O. Box 279, Parker Farms Estates
Warroad, MN 56763 USA
Phone: 218-386-1544
Internet: "nn0dj@amsat.org"


In Europe:

AMSAT-Germany
Werner Haas, DJ5KQ; Vice President
Holderstrauch 10
D-35041 Marburg, Germany
Phone: (06421) 283551
Fax: (06421) 285665
Internet: "dj5kq@amsat.org"

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