Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd announced that Measat1R, which has been renamed Measat3a, will be launched in the third quarter of 2008.
MEASAT (Malaysia East Asia Satellite) is the name of a line of Malaysian communications satellites owned and operated by MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd.
As of 2006, the MEASAT satellite network consists of three geostationary satellites. MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 were launched in 1996 and MEASAT-3 in 2006.
The MEASAT-1 and 2 satellites were designed to provide 12 years of both direct-to-user television service in Malaysia and general communications services in the region from Malaysia to the Philippines and from Beijing to Indonesia. With the launch of MEASAT-3, the coverage extends even further to an area encompassing 70% of the worlds population.
According to the news, Measat3a has been designed to be co-located with Measat3 at the 91.5 degree E orbital hot slot. The satellite will provide 12 high-powered C-band transponders providing coverage across a region bounded by Africa and Eastern Europe in the West, through to Japan and Australia in the East, and 12 high-powered KuBand transponders for direct-to-home customers in Malaysia and Indonesia. The satellite is constructed by Orbital Sciences Inc and is planned to be launched on a LandLaunch Zenith3SL launch vehicle.
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