Optus D3

Optus D3

Operator	Optus
Major contractors	Orbital Sciences
Bus	Star-2.4
Mission type	Communication
Launch date	21 August 2009 22:09 GMT
Carrier rocket	Ariane 5ECA
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Mission duration	15 years
Mass	2,401 kilograms (5,290 lb)
Orbital elements
Regime	Geostationary
Orbital period	24 hours

Optus D3 is an Australian geostationary communications satellite, which is operated by Optus and provides communications services to Australasia. D3 was the third Optus-D satellite to be launched. It is a 2,401-kilogram (5,290 lb) satellite, which was constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on the Star-2.4 satellite bus, with the same configuration as the earlier Optus D2 satellite.^[1]

It was launched, along with the Japanese JCSAT-12 satellite, by Arianespace. An Ariane 5ECA rocket was used for the launch, which occurred from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 22:09 GMT on 21 August 2009, at the start of a 60 minute launch window.^[2]

Optus D3 separated from its carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit using an IHI -500-N apogee motor. It has a design life of fifteen years, and carries thirty two J band transponders (US IEEE Ku band).^[1]

See also

• 2009 in spaceflight

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Krebs, Gunter. "Optus D2, D3". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/optus-d2.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-21. 
2. ^ "Preparations continue with the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 payloads for Ariane 5's next launch". Mission Update. Arianespace. 2009-08-12. http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/621.asp. Retrieved 2009-08-21.