Space accident insurance claim

Press, 8 February 1980, Page 5

Space accident insurance claim

NZPA McAfee, New Jersey The R.C.A. Corporation, its $2O million satellite lost in space, has filed a $7O million insurance claim, a spokesman has said. R.C.A. hopes the loss of the Satcom 111 communications satellite will not delay expansion of an American cable television network that was counting on it, said a spokesman, John Williamson. Mr Williamson said the $7O million covers the cost of the satellite, its launching, and expenses from business interruption. The one-tonne satellite, launched on December 6, disappeared from tracking screens on December 10

... V ’■ V after the firing of a motor 1 that was to send it into per-i manent orbit 35,880 km ] above the Pacific.

R.C.A. is negotiating with ; the American Telephone and : Telegraph Company to use I another satellite temporarily?? he said. . /

R.C.A. has plans for al new satellite, Satcom IV, to be launched in June, 1981.

Scientists still are trying to determine the fate of Satcom 111.

Mr Williamson said a failure review board, including • experts from outside R.C.A; I will make a report by midApril. The scientists’ speculation has been that it burned in the atmosphere or went-into a wayward orbit.