SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-306.01 AMSAT SPECIAL BULLETIN AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 306.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 01, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-306.01 As AMSAT News Service earlier reported -- the launch of the Phase 3D satellite was moved from the first possibility of an October 31st launch -- to a mid-November date. Various sources have now informed ANS that a launch date has been assigned to AR-507 and the launch of Phase 3D. The anticipated date of launch for Arianespace Flight 135, on which P3D will fly, has been confirmed for 01:07 UTC, Wednesday, November 15, 2000. P3D will be launched with three other satellites - the large PAS-1R communications satellite and the smaller STRV-1C and 1D satellites. All four are to be placed in geostationary transfer orbit. Flight 135 is set to be a record-setting Ariane 5 mission, marking the first use of the ASAP-5, a platform that will enable the Ariane 5 launcher to carry auxiliary micro and mini satellite payloads. The total launch vehicle performance to geostationary transfer orbit is over 6,200 kg. This includes the mass of the PAS-1R primary payload and the three auxiliary satellites (of which P3D is one) as well as the weight of the ASAP-5 platform and the other payload mounting and interface hardware. Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the official source for information on the Phase 3D launch. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information] /EX