SPACEPHOTOS

Hughes Global Services, Inc., will make the first commercial use of the moon when it salvages a stranded satellite in May. The satellite was left in an unusable Earth orbit last Christmas Day, when the rocket carrying it shut down prematurely. The satellite was to have provided communications services for Asia and adjoining regions. Hughes Global Services obtained the title to the satellite, and is executing a series of maneuvers that will eventually send it around the moon. Using lunar gravity to assist in changing the orbital characteristics, the satellite will fly back toward Earth and is expected to be placed in geosynchronous orbit. During the salvage mission, the satellite will be spinning with its main antennas extended for stability