Matra Marconi Space (MMS) still has not cleared its solar arrays for shipment, nor has it formally admitted they are defective (see Interspace 671-2). The French arm of the company at Toulouse is still apparently working on them: it has not gone on block vacation in August like the Alcatel (formerly Aerospatiale) satellite plant at Cannes. MMS CEO Armand Carlier is personally on vacation at present, and other company officials are remaining tight-lipped. The company officially is still saying that the "problem is approaching its end", and that SES – for one – will be offered a solution at the end of August. Most probably this will involve fitting new arrays. SES has already indicated that it could wait until year end if need be. Others – notably New Skies Satellite – are not being so patient. But no brand-new satellite solution seems feasible.

Meanwhile Alcatel seems to be in no trouble. The company gets its solar arrays supplied from Dasa rather than Fokker. There is no report of any array trouble with Astra-1K (yet), although delivery is subject to a slight slippage likely to put its launch into 2001.

It appears from sources close to the company that Alcatel was approached to supply the two latest SES satellites, Astra-2C and -2D now being ordered from Hughes. So, also, were a "few" other companies. SES said it gives out no data on unsuccessful bids. In any event, it appears that the contract is going to Hughes by mutual agreement.

A curious fact reported from sources near Alcatel was that the two satelites they were proposing to build would be called Astra-1L and 1X, designations that came from SES, which later changed its mind. SES is proposing to locate the satellites at 28.2 degrees East, which would suggest a ‘2’ designation. The -1 slot at 19.2 degrees East is in any event already full, having used up all its available Ku-band frequencies. The latest -H satellite is purely a spare as regards Ku band.

However, the original designation for the two satellites suggests that SES may have envisaged them as replacements for the 19.2 degrees East slot, but then decided it was more important to reinforce 28.2 degrees East after its agreement with Eutelsat on the disputed 28/29 degrees orbital slots.

Meantime, at Arianespace, Telkom-1 (Flight 118) remains suspended through Thursday this week after the discovery of faulty electronic components on another vehicle in Europe. Koreasat-3 should fly on September 1. The company claims that another eight satellites (not counting those from MMS) will or should be available for launch before year-end.