MEASAT-3b launch rescheduled to September
June 5, 2014
By Colin Mann
Satellite operator MEASAT has confirmed that the launch of the MEASAT-3b craft has been rescheduled to September 2014. MEASAT-3b will remain in storage at the European Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana awaiting launch.
MEASAT-3b had previously been scheduled for launch on 6 June 2014 GFT. The postponement was called after Optus Networks informed launch service provider Arianespace that its OPTUS 10 satellite, one of the two payloads being carried by Arianespace flight VA218, originally scheduled for June 6, required additional verifications.
MEASAT-3b is designed to provide an additional 48 high powered Ku-band transponders at the 91.5°E orbital slot to expand Direct-To-Home and VSAT services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia. Co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a, the satellite will more than double MEASAT’s Ku-band capacity at 91.5°E creating one of the region’s most powerful and robust orbital locations.