MEASAT-3a

MEASAT-3a

Operator	MEASAT Satellite Systems
Major contractors	OSC (spacecraft) Land Launch (LSP)
Bus	STAR-2
Mission type	Communication
Launch date	21 June 2009, 21:50 GMT
Carrier rocket	Zenit-3SLB
Launch site	Baikonur Site 45/1
Orbital elements
Regime	Geosynchronous
Longitude	91.5° East

MEASAT-3a^[1] is a communications satellite which MEASAT intends to operate in geosynchronous orbit at 91.5 degrees East longitude. It was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, based on the STAR-2 spacecraft platform.^[2]

History

Orbital completed the satellite and all of its contractual requirements, and shipped the satellite to its Baikonur, Kazakhstan launch site in July 2008. The satellite was mated to the Block DM upper stage of the Zenit-3SLB rocket when it was struck by the operator cab of the overhead crane. The hazardous propellants were successfully offloaded and the spacecraft was decontaminated and returned to the United States for repair work, with a projected launch date of Spring/Summer 2009.^[3]

Launch

MEASAT-3a was successfully launched aboard a Land Launch Zenit-3SLB carrier rocket flying from Site 45/1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch occurred at 21:50 GMT on 21 June 2009, with the spacecraft separating from the Block DM-SLB upper stage of the rocket around six hours later.

References

1. ^ "MEASAT-3a". MEASAT. http://www.measat.com/satellite_91e_measat3a.html. Retrieved 2010-09-09. 
2. ^ "Current Mission: MEASAT-3a". Sea Launch. http://www.sea-launch.com/land-launch/mission_MEASAT-3a/current_launch_measat.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-20. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ [1]