by Carl J.
Hopefully, you
are interested in some of the earlier Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT)
lore.
I was Vice
President of Engineering and Operation at COMSAT World Systems. In the mid-1990s,
we were strongly encouraged to allow China to launch one of our Intelsat
satellites. As part of the decision, I was part of a delegation that went on an
inspection trip to Beijing and Chengdu, the launch site.
It was agreed
to approve the Chinese launch. The rocket and satellite went straight up, and
then immediately straight down. We suspected a guidance program error, but we never
learned for sure. This was more excitement that most of us had wanted.
