11.   Hughes, the U.S. manufacturer whose satellite blew up in a failed Chinese launch, on Thursday denied newspaper claims that foreign competitors may have triggered the explosion.

12.   No other details of the failed launch from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan were immediately available.

13.   Shortly after the failed launch, Fossett was reluctant to commit himself to a fresh solo bid.

14.   That is because viewers have seen too many failed launches.

15.   The failed launch came as workers in Baikonur were making final preparations for the launch of an American communications satellite scheduled for Saturday.

16.   The failed launch of an Israeli communications satellite from Russia has stalled plans by Israel to send its own spy satellite into orbit, a newspaper said Monday.

17.   The failed launch for the Hong Kong-based firm is the latest in a string of failures.

18.   The smooth launch, the second in a row, is part of a comeback for China after two failed launches last year.

19.   NASDA officials confirmed that the failed launch Thursday would increase the operational cost of the launch but could not confirm by how much.

20.   The European space programme run by Arianespace has been given permission to restart its missions following a failed launch in January, officials said Wednesday.