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Aihnss.1313 net.columbia utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!ihnss!karn Tue Jan 12 11:15:35 1982 Ariane capacity The Ariane can carry a payload slightly larger than that of an Atlas Centaur into geostationary transfer orbit. Its primary advantage is its launch site (Korou, French Guiana, South America), which is only about 5 degrees north of the equator. This means less energy is necessary to put the final orbit in the plane of the equator.

ESA (the European Space Agency) has come up with a device called a "SYLDA" (don't ask me the meaning of this acronym, its in French) for launching two satellites. It looks like a big football that splits apart once in orbit, so the satellite inside can be released.

AMSAT will be launching Phase-IIIB on top of one with ECS-1 riding inside this summer; I'm not sure if this is the first use of the SYLDA or not.

Phil Karn

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