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March 31, 2000

Title: Satellite problem delays first flight of Atlas 3A rocket

FLORIDA TODAY staff

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A problem with a European satellite is forcing the delay of the inaugural flight of the Lockheed Martin Atlas 3 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The flight had been scheduled for April 14 but will not occur until at least mid-May, Lockheed Martin officials said Thursday.

The satellite, built by Alcatel Space of France for the European consortium Eutelsat, is to provide pay television and Internet access to Russia and sub-Saharan Africa.

In a statement from Paris, Eutelsat officials said technical issues emerged during prelaunch processing on the spacecraft.

From San Diego, Lockheed Martin spokesman Julie Andrews said, "We will take advantage of the delay to do some (additional) testing on the rocket.'' She added the rocket appears to have no problems.

Eutelsat successfully has flown five previous times on Atlas rockets.

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http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/2000a/033100f.htm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 31, 2000