Mar 11 1988
From The Space Library
A European Space Agency (ESA) Ariane 3 launch vehicle was successfully launched from Kourou Launch Center in French Guiana carrying two communications satellite payloads, including a U.S. satellite. The launching had been scheduled for December but was delayed for extra tests after abnormalities were detected in the oxygen and liquid hydrogen third-stage engine. Twenty minutes after launch, the Ariane 3 released the French Telecom 1C and GTE's Spacenet III Geostar RO1 communications satellites for auto-boost into geostationary orbit, 22,554 miles above the Equator. The spacenet satellite was expected to begin its boost toward geostationary orbit at 87 degrees west longitude on Wednesday. (FBIS-WEU-88-049, Mar 14/88; SSR 1988 018A-D; NY Times, Mar 13/88; W Post, Mar 12/88; LA Times, Mar 12/88; C Trib, Mar 13/88)
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