GROUND COMBAT +
AIR COMBAT +
NAVAL OPERATIONS +
SPECIAL OPERATIONS +
HUMAN FACTORS +
SPECIAL WEAPONS +
WARFARE BY THE NUMBERS +
LOGISTICS +
TOOLS +
|
Latest
News |
Most
Read |
Hot
Topics |
|
July 22, 2001
An Ariane-5 booster launched on 12 July put two satellites (the European Space Agency Artemis advanced communications satellite and a Japanese commercial television satellite) into the wrong orbits. The German-built upper stage stopped prematurely, leaving the satellites stranded halfway to their intended 22,360-mile orbits. In theory the satellites can climb to proper orbits with their onboard fuel but this will shorten their service lives, perhaps by 90%. This was the third serious failure for Ariane-5, which is making it hard to convince customers to use this booster.Stephen V Cole
|
|
|
|
