April 16, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

China Returns Salvaged Spacecraft to Orbit

XICHANG, CHINA China returned a satellite salvaged from space back to space for the first time earlier this month with the successful launch of AsiaSat 1 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center here. The mission established China as a formidable, low-cost competitor to Western commercial launch systems, which have been beset by recent failures.

By PAUL PROCTOR6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Pegasus Booster Proves to Be Highly Accurate in Its First Launch

EDWARDS AFB, CALIF. The two spacecraft launched by the first Orbital Sciences Corp. Pegasus booster achieved nearly perfect orbital altitude and inclination, according to initial data. The small Navy communications relay satellite and a NASA science payload were boosted into orbit Apr. 5 by the three-stage Pegasus vehicle, which was dropped from a NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility B-52 aircraft off the coast of California (AW&ST Apr. 9, p. 22).

By BRUCE A. SMITH5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

NASA Reschedules Hubble Launch After APU Problem Causes Delay

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NASA has developed a recovery plan to launch the Hubble Space Telescope at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) on Apr. 25 in a move that would provide time to remove and replace a malfunctioning auxiliary power unit and to recharge the batteries that power telescope systems.

By EDWARD H. KOLCUM4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Water Line Blockage Led to Ariane V36 In-Flight Failure

EVRY, FRANCE The loss of Europe’s Ariane V36 launcher in February was due to the obstruction of a water supply line caused by a piece of cloth that blocked the main water valve on one of the vehicle’s firststage engines. An inquiry into the Feb. 22 accident found no fundamental design problems with the European launcher itself, and operations with the three-stage commercial booster are expected to be resumed this summer by the Arianespace management/marketing organization.

SAFETY

FAA Urged to Increase Oversight Of Airline Flight Safety Programs

The Director of Aviation Safety Programs for Transport Canada testified that his agency strongly urges airlines in Canada to adopt the independent safety officer program. In fact, Transport Canada sponsors a program that includes training for airline CEOs to demonstrate to them the need and cost benefit for such programs.

April 91990

April 231990

April 16, 1990

April 16, 1990