Hughes Cancels
HIIA Block-Buy Launch Contract
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Hughes
Space and Communications International, Inc. has canceled a
contract with Rocket System Corporation to launch satellites using
the next-generation H-2A rocket being developed by Japan’s
National Space Development Agency. According to the terms of the
contract, signed in 1996, Hughes planned to launch 10 satellites
at a combined cost of nearly US$830 million (90 billion yen).
Hughes was planning to start launching satellites with H-2A
rockets in 2001, though the November 1999 failure may have pushed
back the first launch to the second half of 2002 or later. The
contract reportedly contains a clause stipulating that Hughes can
unilaterally cancel the contract if the launches of two
consecutive H-2 or H-2A rockets fail. Hughes is demanding the
return of about US$28 million (3 billion yen) it has already paid
as an advance to Rocket In 1996, Space Systems/Loral signed a
similar contract, also for 10 launches.
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