MEASAT-3a

MEASAT-3a^[1] is a communications satellite which MEASAT Satellite Systems intends to operate in geosynchronous orbit at 91.5 degrees but has now be moved to 160 Degrees to serve abc and SBS channels. It was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, based on the STAR-2 spacecraft platform.^[2]

MEASAT-3a

Mission type	Communication
Operator	MEASAT Satellite Systems
COSPAR ID	2009-032A
SATCAT no.	35362
Spacecraft properties
Bus	STAR-2
Manufacturer	OSC
Start of mission
Launch date	21 June 2009, 21:50 (2009-06-21UTC21:50Z) UTC
Rocket	Zenit-3SLB
Launch site	Baikonur 45/1
Contractor	Land Launch
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	91.5° East

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 and additional testing, 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.