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Sat-na
                                                 
                                                    June, 23
                                                        1997


                                   
  Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
  Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions
  Hughes to build Sirrus 3
  Ariane Announces Four New Launch Contracts
  ComStream new VSAT contract
  New World-Wide VSAT Industry Forum
  Hero Productions
  Mexico To Launch Satellite Auction
  PanAmSat selects Arianespace for launch of Galaxy XI
  PanAmSat Customers Expand Video  Services
  Loral and Alcatel combine forces
  New universal Ku-band combiner
  Telefonica Selects DiviCom Digital Video
  DBSI Chooses Launch Provider
  Head Start programs via satellite
  Motorola to Build Global Satellite System
  Ariane 5 gets the "green light"
  LATE EDITION NEWS
  In Brief
  
                              
              Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
     Seven IRIDIUM satellites were launched into orbit on a
Russian manufactured Proton rocket.  After 88 minutes, the
satellites separated from the launcher and will spend the
next two weeks undergoing in orbit testing.
  The satellites were put in orbit with the following
  initial parameters:
"    period of revolution_one hour 35 minutes; -- maximum
 distance from the Earth's surface (in the apogee) -- 536
 kilometres;
"    minimal distance from the Earth surface (in the
 perigee) -- 514 kilometres;
"    inclination of the orbit -- 86.4 degrees.
     These satellites are part of the IRIDIUM 66-satellite
network (420 nautical miles)  and will be placed into an
adjacent plane to the orbital plane containing the first
five satellites successfully launched on May 5.
     This launch is the first of three scheduled Proton
launches to take place in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
next Iridium launch will be on a Delta 2 rocket on July 7.
                              
      Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions

     The Ariane 5 launcher will be used for two new
scientific missions. Following an earlier contract for the
Envisat 1 Earth observation satellite, the European Space
Agency will use Arianespace for the launch of XMM (X-ray
Multi-Mirror) observatory.
     The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch system was chosen
because of the XMM's size; weight and mission
characteristics. The launch is scheduled for either mid 1999
or the winter of 1999-2000.
     Weighing 3,900 kg (8,580 lb.) at lift-off, the XMM
satellite is part of the ESA's Horizon 2000 scientific
program, along with the Rosetta, Soho and First missions.
This spaceborne telescope will be placed in a very highly-
inclined elliptical orbit, and carry out spectroscopic
measurements of X-ray sources in the universe.
     The Envisat 1 multimission polar platform (PPF) will
ensure continuity with current ERS Earth observation
missions, but with enhanced terrestrial and maritime
surveillance capabilities. Built by Matra Marconi Space in
Bristol, UK, Envisat 1 will weigh approximately 10,000 kg
(22,000 lb.) at launch. Scheduled for launch by the end of
1999, Envisat 1 will be placed in a sun-synchronous polar
orbit at an altitude of 800 km (500 miles).

                              
                  Hughes to build Sirrus 3
     
     Hughes has been awarded a contract for a
telecommunications satellite and ground-station support
services from Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget (NSAB), a joint
venture among Swedish Space Corp., Tele D
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