Nov 12 1985
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(New page: Frederic J.P. d'Allest, chairman of Arianespace, told the U.S. Senate science, technology, and space subcommittee the previous week that his firm offered satellite insurance at lower t...)
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Frederic J.P. d'Allest, chairman of Arianespace, told the U.S. Senate science, technology, and space subcommittee the previous week that his firm offered satellite insurance at lower than market rates to those using the Ariane rocket to launch their satellites, the Washington Times reported. The insurance covered only the booster phase of a satellite launch.
Arianespace charged between 11 and 13% of the total value of the launch for insuring an Ariane launch from lift off to geostationary orbit, that portion of the flight under Arianespace's control. Satellite operators had to go to commercial insurance markets to obtain coverage for the rest of a satellite's operation.
More than $600 million in losses from the failure of seven satellites in almost two years had resulted in a tightened insurance market that was seriously threatening commercial space projects. Satellite insurance firms had cut back on the amount they would commit to insure launches, while boosting premiums to more than 20% of the total insured value of the launch. The subcommittee before which d'Allest testified was investigating a possible federal role in easing the insurance problem. However, commercial underwriters warned the subcommittee that the federal government should stay out of the insurance business.
"In my view," James Barrett, president of International Technology Underwriters, said, "there is no role for government to play in this commercial market. Intervention can only disturb normal market processes." He noted the solution to the problem was improved reliability of satellite manufacturers and launch agencies. "Insurance . . . cannot compensate for unacceptable levels of reliability," he commented. (W Times, Nov 12/85, 7C)
NASA announced that its Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) issued a request for proposals to LTV, Martin Marietta, and TRW to compete for a contract to design, develop, and manufacture an orbital maneuvering vehicle (OMV). The three companies worked previously on OMV definition studies and had until December 20,1985, to respond. NASA expected to award the contract in June 1986 and planned the first OMV flight for early 1991.
The contract would include provisions for testing and hardware flight testing before the OMV's actual operational missions. The company selected would build one vehicle, with NASA having an option to request construction of a second.
Often called a "space tug," the OMV would transfer satellites and other objects between earth orbits and would extend the reach of the Space Shuttle by about 1000 miles. It would have the ability to retrieve satellites from high orbits, bring them back to the Space Shuttle for maintenance and repair, then return them to their operational orbits. The OMV would also be able to reboost satellites as their orbits gradually decayed.
The OMV would be an unmanned spacecraft, 15 feet in diameter and approximately 4 feet long. Its life would be about 10 years with refurbishment and on-orbit maintenance included in the design. NASA expected initially to deploy the OMV from the Space Shuttle for short duration missions; later the OMV would remain in orbit for extended periods for use in both Space Shuttle-based and space station-based modes of operation. (NASA Release 85-151)
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