Status
Failure
Intelsat 708
Wed Feb 14, 1996 19:01 UTC
Disclaimer: The video linked for this launch features loss of life and may be disturbing for some viewers.
Guidance platform short-circuited right at liftoff, leading to loss of attitude control. The vehicle hit the ground at T+23 seconds and exploded, killing at least 6 people on the ground.
Maiden flight of the Long March 3B.
Rocket
Mission Details
Intelsat 708
The nine high-powered Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) spacecraft of the Intelsat 7/7A program, which provides global dissemination of voice, video, and data transmission services, have been launched and are in orbit.
The Intelsat-7A communications payload architecture evolved from SS/L's Intelsat-5 series and consists of two independent communications subsystems, which can be cross-strapped and operate at C-band (4/6 GHz) and Ku-band (11/14 GHz). Total end-of-life solar array transmitter power generated by an Intelsat 7 is 3600 watts, while an Intelsat 7A generates 4800 Watts.
The Intelsat-7A spacecraft are based on SS/L's three-axis, body-stabilized SSL-1300 bus, whose modular design has proven its worth during some 290 years of cumulative on-orbit service, close to one-half of the total of 650 years amassed by SS/L satellites to date.
The Intelsat-7A designation identifies the three satellites that were enlarged and fitted with additional communications capacity and power. Four additional, more powerful Ku-band transponders, each with up to 73-watt TWTAs, and a fourth solar-array panel provided the added capacity.