The Nation - News from Sept. 13, 1988

An American communications satellite owned by GTE Spacenet, launched last Thursday by a French Ariane rocket, was hurled into an incorrect orbit when an on-board rocket motor misfired, officials said. The G-Star 3 satellite, launched from the European Space Agency’s jungle complex pad in French Guiana, was safely delivered to the correct preliminary orbit, as was another American communications satellite owned by Satellite Transponder Leasing Corp., by a French-built Ariane 3 rocket. The G-Star 3 satellite, which was to join a fleet of five relay stations owned by GTE Spacenet, apparently was hurled into a useless orbit when an on-board rocket motor misfired Sunday. It is thought that GTE Spacenet paid about $100 million for the satellite and Ariane launch services.