SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-303.01
ARIANE 502 FLIGHT SUCCEEDS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN No.303.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD October 30, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-303.01

Several news sources sources have reported that the second flight test of the
Ariane 5 launch vehicle (Ariane 502) was a success, and ESA has reported it 
as such.  These same reports have also stated that the upper stage payloads, 
the two MAQSATSS (B and H), have been separated and deployed into a 
geostationary transfer orbit as planned.  Early accounts noted that the 
launch was initiated at 1343 Universal Time today October 30, 1997.
from the European Space Agency's Kourou launch facility in French Guiana, 
South America.  

Ariane 502 carries three payloads.  Two are (MAQSATs B and H) which are 
instrumented payloads designed to simulate two large geostationary 
satellites as well as to measure the Ariane 5 flight environment.  
The payload also included a smaller satellite, called TEAMSAT.  TEAMSAT 
is an experimental scientific satellite.  No word has yet been received 
rgarding its successful deployment or operation.  No Amateur Radio 
satellites were aboard.

The AMSAT Phase 3D spacecraft, currently nearing completion, was to have
flown on this flight test of the Ariane 5 series.  However, in August, ESA
removed P3-D from the AR-502 manifest when it became clear that needed
structural modifications to the P3-D spaceframe would not be finished in
time to make the AR-502 launch and the Phase 3-D completion
schedules compatible.  The modifications came as a result of  ESA's
discovery that launch loads on the AR-502 flight might be significantly
higher than ESA had first anticipated. 

AMSAT officials believe that it still too early to know what the effect
Ariane 502's now apparent success will have on the subsequent Ariane
schedule, on the possible Phase 3D launch, or the vehicle on which it will
ultimately ride.  However, it was anticipated that a successful AR-502
flight would give ESA added flexibility in scheduling a subsequent launch
for Phase 3-D on a future Ariane flight. 

AMSAT-DL President Karl Meinzer DJ4ZC and AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan
W3XO, expressed their great joy and relief on hearing the news.  In a joint
statement they said, "After the failure of Ariane 501 in 1996, we at
AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA were, quite naturally, very distressed to hear of
that unfortunate occurrence."  "This subsequent success of of the Ariane
502 flight puts ESA's  Ariane 5 program back on track and, even though we
were not aboard this time, is very good news for us."  

On behalf of the Amateur Radio satellite community, both AMSAT Presidents 
extend their sincere congratulations to ESA, Arianespace, CNES as well as
to the members of the TEAMSAT Project.  

Keep tuned to ANS for further information as it becomes available.

/EX