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B1 Mission

Optus B1 was the First Hughes HS601 built and Launched

Contractually, Optus (Aussat) placed a number of conditions on Hughes. One was that Hughes ran the MCC for the Mission from Belrose. This gave us a chance to work closely alongside the Hughes Team so that we could learn from them. As the First Operator of a HS601, we needed to be close to them so we could quickly be across anything that they themselves learnt. They'd never flown one either so their was plenty to learn.

Just to make it more intersting we had made a decision to launch on a Chinese Long March rocket from Xichang

The first launch attempt failed. The Launcher lifted of the Launch Pad about 6 inches and then the engines shutdown. Thankfully, it settled back onto the Launch Pad without damage.

The guys took it in good humour. Notice the ""Thumbs Down"". It became known as the ""Claytons"" Launch. The Launch you have when you're not having a Launch.

The Successful Launch.

Stu, Phil, Warren, Bruno, Nick, John and Mike.

Evan and Dave at the ACU

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