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Intelsat 708
Intelsat 708, a telecommunications satellite constructed by the American company Space Systems/Loral for Intelsat, was destroyed on 15 February 1996, when the Long March 3B carrier rocket failed during its launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China. The launch vehicle deviated from its intended trajectory shortly after liftoff and struck a hillside near the main gate of the XSLC, causing damage to buildings on the launch centre's territory and flattening Mayelin Village. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least six people.
The accident investigation identified a failure in the guidance system of the Long March 3B. After the Intelsat 708 accident, the Long March rockets did not experience another mission failure until 2011. However, the participation of American companies in the Intelsat 708 and Apstar 2 investigations caused political controversy in the United States. A U.S. government investigation found that the information in the accident investigation report had been illegally transferred to China. Satellite technology was subsequently reclassified as a munition and placed under ITAR restrictions, blocking its export to China. In 2002, Space Systems/Loral paid US$20 million to settle charges of violating export controls.
After the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the US Government decided that commercial satellite payloads would not be launched on Space Shuttles, forcing satellite producers to use expendable rocket systems instead. At that time, China also began its entry into the international space market.
In 1992 and 1993, Space Systems/Loral received licenses from the United States Department of State to launch Intelsat satellites on Chinese rockets. At that time, satellite components were still under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); they would be transferred in stages to the U.S. Department of Commerce between 1992 and 1996. The Intelsat 708 satellite was to be launched into geostationary orbit aboard a Long March 3B launch vehicle. It was also the maiden flight of the vehicle.
On 21 December 1992, the Optus-B2 satellite was launched into orbit aboard a Long March 2E rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center {XSLC}. 45 seconds after liftoff, the rocket's fairing with the payload inside had collapsed, damaging the satellite. However, the damaged satellite debris was still transported into orbit, and tracking stations managed to receive signals from the spacecraft after several days.
On 26 January 1995, the Apstar 2 satellite was launched from the XSLC on board a Long March 2E launch vehicle. After flying for 51 seconds, the vehicle suddenly erupted into flames and exploded, the debris falling on nearby villages. Chinese officials stated that as the result of the failure, 6 villagers died and 23 were injured. It was later found that the cause of the failure was the payload fairing collapsing mid-flight due to structural deficiency. Chinese officials, however, blamed the satellite for the failure. After the incident, Intelsat and SSL officials forbade employees from observing launches from the roof of the hotel building, a decision that may have prevented further fatalities.
Mayelin village was created in the 1950s. The village bordered the launch center's main gate. In 1980 it was abolished for unknown reasons, however the village was later reestablished. At the moment of the Intelsat 708 launch, approximately 1000 or fewer people may have lived in the village. Mayelin village was mostly populated by the Yi people and local farmers. The village was located between the launch center's main gate and the nearby town of Mayelin (commonly mistaken with the village). Villages close to XSLC had been evacuated since the early 1980s according to the Chinese government.
The launch was planned for 2:51 on 15 February 1996. However, the launch was delayed to 3:00, a "luckier" number. The countdown began around 2:56, with the launch window opening at 2:51. The launch was being broadcast on CCTV and the live feed from the launch pad was being transmitted at the headquarters of Space Systems/Loral. The umbilical swing arms eventually opened, and at 3:01:07 AM (19:01 Beijing time), the Long March 3B with the Intelsat 708 satellite aboard began rising into the air, only to start inclining to the East just 2 seconds into lift-off. The rocket flew over the umbilical tower and started turning horizontal in the air while flying towards the residential area of XSLC. 22 seconds later, the rocket was remotely detonated; seconds later, it hit a hillside and its propellant ignited into a massive explosion.
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Intelsat 708
Intelsat 708, a telecommunications satellite constructed by the American company Space Systems/Loral for Intelsat, was destroyed on 15 February 1996, when the Long March 3B carrier rocket failed during its launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China. The launch vehicle deviated from its intended trajectory shortly after liftoff and struck a hillside near the main gate of the XSLC, causing damage to buildings on the launch centre's territory and flattening Mayelin Village. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least six people.
The accident investigation identified a failure in the guidance system of the Long March 3B. After the Intelsat 708 accident, the Long March rockets did not experience another mission failure until 2011. However, the participation of American companies in the Intelsat 708 and Apstar 2 investigations caused political controversy in the United States. A U.S. government investigation found that the information in the accident investigation report had been illegally transferred to China. Satellite technology was subsequently reclassified as a munition and placed under ITAR restrictions, blocking its export to China. In 2002, Space Systems/Loral paid US$20 million to settle charges of violating export controls.
After the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the US Government decided that commercial satellite payloads would not be launched on Space Shuttles, forcing satellite producers to use expendable rocket systems instead. At that time, China also began its entry into the international space market.
In 1992 and 1993, Space Systems/Loral received licenses from the United States Department of State to launch Intelsat satellites on Chinese rockets. At that time, satellite components were still under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); they would be transferred in stages to the U.S. Department of Commerce between 1992 and 1996. The Intelsat 708 satellite was to be launched into geostationary orbit aboard a Long March 3B launch vehicle. It was also the maiden flight of the vehicle.
On 21 December 1992, the Optus-B2 satellite was launched into orbit aboard a Long March 2E rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center {XSLC}. 45 seconds after liftoff, the rocket's fairing with the payload inside had collapsed, damaging the satellite. However, the damaged satellite debris was still transported into orbit, and tracking stations managed to receive signals from the spacecraft after several days.
On 26 January 1995, the Apstar 2 satellite was launched from the XSLC on board a Long March 2E launch vehicle. After flying for 51 seconds, the vehicle suddenly erupted into flames and exploded, the debris falling on nearby villages. Chinese officials stated that as the result of the failure, 6 villagers died and 23 were injured. It was later found that the cause of the failure was the payload fairing collapsing mid-flight due to structural deficiency. Chinese officials, however, blamed the satellite for the failure. After the incident, Intelsat and SSL officials forbade employees from observing launches from the roof of the hotel building, a decision that may have prevented further fatalities.
Mayelin village was created in the 1950s. The village bordered the launch center's main gate. In 1980 it was abolished for unknown reasons, however the village was later reestablished. At the moment of the Intelsat 708 launch, approximately 1000 or fewer people may have lived in the village. Mayelin village was mostly populated by the Yi people and local farmers. The village was located between the launch center's main gate and the nearby town of Mayelin (commonly mistaken with the village). Villages close to XSLC had been evacuated since the early 1980s according to the Chinese government.
The launch was planned for 2:51 on 15 February 1996. However, the launch was delayed to 3:00, a "luckier" number. The countdown began around 2:56, with the launch window opening at 2:51. The launch was being broadcast on CCTV and the live feed from the launch pad was being transmitted at the headquarters of Space Systems/Loral. The umbilical swing arms eventually opened, and at 3:01:07 AM (19:01 Beijing time), the Long March 3B with the Intelsat 708 satellite aboard began rising into the air, only to start inclining to the East just 2 seconds into lift-off. The rocket flew over the umbilical tower and started turning horizontal in the air while flying towards the residential area of XSLC. 22 seconds later, the rocket was remotely detonated; seconds later, it hit a hillside and its propellant ignited into a massive explosion.