McDonnell Wins 3rd Commercial Satellite Pact
McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. in Huntington Beach said Tuesday that it has received a $50-million order to launch a communications satellite for the International Maritime Satellite Organization.
The contract represents the company’s third commercial satellite launch order since July 15. Hughes Aircraft Co. ordered two launch rockets last month, and the Indian government ordered a single rocket launch earlier in August.
With the latest order, the company’s commercial launch contracts total $200 million, according to a McDonnell Douglas spokesman.
The latest order offers yet more evidence of McDonnell Douglas’ aggressive push to win commercial contracts to launch its Delta rockets to place in orbit payloads for scientific groups, businesses and foreign countries.
The commercial orders come on the heels of a large contract award earlier this year from the Air Force for up to 20 Delta rockets to be used for military satellite launches. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has ordered four Delta rockets.
The launch ordered by the International Maritime Satellite Organization has been scheduled for late 1989 and will be the first commercial launch using the Delta II, a more powerful version of the Delta being developed for the Air Force.
The maritime group, with headquarters in London, is an international cooperative of 48 member countries. It operates a satellite system for maritime mobile communications, serving almost 6,000 users.
