New Satellite Will Be Used By N.Z.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 20

New Satellite Will Be Used By N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 6. The communications satellite launched early this morning from Cape Kennedy, Florida, will be used by New Zealand’s first telecommunications satellite ground station, planned for completion by the end of next year.

The 3221 b satellite was hoisted into a stationary orbit 22,300 miles above the Pacific Ocean by a three-stage Delta rocket. It cost the 63-nation International Telecommunications Satellite consortium (Intelsat), of which New Zealand is a member, $4,700,000 to launch. The satellite is called “Intelsat 3-Pacific” and will more than double satellite telephone and television circuits across the Pacific Ocean. It will link stations in the United States, Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and eventually New Zealand. Post Office engineers are

studying eight tenders received from many parts of the world for the construction of New Zealand’s earth station. A Post Office official said today that it would probably be several months before the volume of technical data involved in the tenders had been evaluated and a recommendation made to the Government.

“Intelsat 3-Pacific” can handle 1200 two-way telephone conversations. Two earlier commercial satellites over the Pacific have a total of 480 channels.

The launching was carried out for Intelsat by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.