China's space programme received a setback
with the explosion of a Loug
March 313 rocket carrying a
us satellite, Intelsat 708.
China suspended all satellite
launches' after the blast,
which killed four people.
The suspension is likely to
delay the launch of two satellites, Dongfang 3 for China
and the Apstar IA for a
Hong-Kong-based company,
APT Satellite.
According to the launch
operator of Apstar IA, Great
Wall Industry Corp, the
satellite was scheduled to be
launched this month. Dong-
fang 3 and China Sat, slated
for launch in July, are crucial
to China's infrastructure.
Serious delays in their launch
could stall the modernisation of the country's broadcast and telecommunications sector. Great Wall has
eight or nine launches scheduled for this year and long
delays could send reverberations across the global
telecommunications market.
Meanwhile, close on the,
heels of the rocket blast,
a Chinese satellite, FSW1
which has gone out of
control, is expected to crash
on earth or iii sea anytime
this month.
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