European Telecommunications Satellite Organization

An Atlas rocket thundered into space Saturday with a European communications satellite that will relay television broadcasts of the 1992 Olympics. It was the first commercial launch for General Dynamics Corp. since April, when one of its boosters careened out of control and had to be destroyed shortly after liftoff. The $85-million satellite, owned by the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, joins six other Eutelsat craft in orbit.

The Intelsat board of governors has decided to sell space on its international satellite system and to rent it under fully protected, long-term leases, an official said Thursday. During a six-day meeting that ended Wednesday, the board also approved the offering of regular part-time international video service starting Oct. 1, said Jose Alegrett, deputy director general for business planning and external relations at the 110-nation global communications cooperative.

In a significant victory for the American rocket industry, General Dynamics has landed a contract to launch at least one and possibly three European satellites, company officials announced Friday. In the past, the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization--Eutelsat--has used the French-built Ariane rocket, America's major competition in the unmanned launch market, to carry its satellites into orbit.

General Dynamics Corp. will try to breathe new life into its 30-year-old Atlas-Centaur rocket program by building 18 of the launch vehicles for sale to commercial and government customers, the company said Monday. The company-funded program, which could generate more than $1 billion in revenue, ranks as one of the nation's largest commercial space programs, according to industry analysts. The first commercially available rocket is expected to be launched in mid-1989.