The World - News from Sept. 9, 1988

A European Ariane rocket blasted off into space, lifting into orbit two American satellites destined to upgrade telephone and television service in the United States. Liftoff took place from the agency’s launch site in French Guiana. Officials at the space center called the launch “a complete success.” Frederic d’Allest, president of the Arianespace company, said, “After the Challenger catastrophe of 1986, we were the only ones capable of assuring, with the heavy responsibility that that implies, the replacement of the Free World’s satellites that were coming to the end of their lives.” The satellites aboard the Ariane 3 belong to GTE Spacenet and to Satellite Transponder Leasing Corp., a division of IBM.