Nov 8 1978
From The Space Library
INTELSAT announced award of a contract to improve satellite communications in regions plagued by frequent heavy rainfall that caused satellite signals to fade at higher frequencies. Under the $39 827 contract, the Technische Universitat Graz, Austria, would conduct yr-long experiments for simultaneous comparison of fading caused by rainfall in four different locations. Results would determine whether alternative earth stations for use during rainfall would solve the fading problem. (INTELSAT Release 78-31-M)
INTELSAT announced it was seeking bids from U.S. domestic communications-satellite operators to provide television services between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexico had asked INTELSAT help in obtaining international television between the Tulancingo earth station near Mexico City and a number of points within the U.S. Although INTELSAT had already established international comsat service over the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans between a total of 192 earth stations and 94 countries, its satellites (configured primarily for long-haul transoceanic communications) could not provide the coverage Mexico required. Consequently, INTELSAT's board of governors had authorized it to seek alternative ways of supplying Mexico's need until INTELSAT could do so with its own facilities. This was the first time INTELSAT had sought to lease long-term space-segment communications capacity outside its own resources. (INTELSAT Release 78-32-1)
ESA's Spacelab program board had turned down NASA's proposal to barter Space Shuttle launch services for the second Spacelab NASA was committed to acquire, and the action was seen as final, Defense/Space Business Daily reported. NASA had hoped to exchange launch service in return for the Spacelab in order to reduce costs [see Sept. 12]. Although ESA itself favored the barter plan, the European governments had refused to commit themselves in advance to Space Shuttle flights. In lieu of the barter deal or any increased NASA funding, ESA might be asked to prefinance work on the second Spacelab until NASA could get the money. (DISBD, Nov 8/78, 39)
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