MEASAT
Encyclopedia
MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd., formerly Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd is a Malaysian communications satellite
operator.
MEASAT (Malaysia East Asia Satellite) is the name of a line of communications satellite
s owned and operated by the company.
As of 2006, the MEASAT satellite network consists of three geostationary satellites designed and built by Boeing Satellite Systems. 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 world's population.
In May 1994, Binariang Sdn. Bhd. of Kuala Lumpur
and Boeing Satellite Systems signed a contract calling for the construction of the Malaysia East Asia Satellite (MEASAT) system. The system called for one Boeing 376 model spacecraft
, equipment for a satellite control station on Langkawi
Island, and training of Malaysian spacecraft controllers. Binariang exercised its option for a second satellite in January 1995.
MEASAT 1 has five high-power transponders in Ku band
for the direct-to-user service, powered by 112-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. The regional service is provided on 12 transponders in C band
, using 12-watt solid state amplifiers. MEASAT-2 has 11 active transponders in Ku band. Eight of these use 95-watt traveling-wave amplifiers, and three have 62 watts. There also are six active transponders in C band, powered by 12-watt solid-state amplifiers.
As Boeing 376 spacecraft, the MEASAT satellites have three enhancements over the standard model. They were the first in the Boeing 376 series to be fitted with gallium arsenide solar cells, which deliver 40 percent more payload power as compared to their silicon predecessors. They were also the first Boeing 376s to use Boeing Satellite Systems' lightweight, high-gain shaped antenna
. The satellites also used a more efficient bipropellant system for stationkeeping and attitude control maneuvers.
Both MEASAT-1 & 2 satellites were launched on Ariane
rockets from Centre Spatial Guyanais
at Kourou
in French Guiana
. MEASAT-1 was launched in January 1996, and MEASAT-2 was launched in November 1996. MEASAT-1 is located in a geostationary orbit at 91.5 degrees East, and MEASAT-2 is located in a geostationary orbit at 148 degrees East
.
On 13 January 2010 brought into service the AFRICASAT-2 satellite at the 5.7°E orbital location. The AFRICASAT-2 satellite was previously known as MEASAT-2 and had been operating at the 148°E orbital location. Now operating in inclined orbit at the 5.7°E orbital location, AFRICASAT-2 provides both C and Ku-Band capacity for telecommunications and broadcasting services across Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East.
MEASAT-3 was launched successfully on the 12th of December 2006, 7.35 am (Malaysian Time, GMT +8.00 HRS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
, Kazakhstan
. http://www.ilslaunch.com/zmedia/newsarchives/newsreleases/rec13/
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
operator.
MEASAT (Malaysia East Asia Satellite) is the name of a line of communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
s owned and operated by the company.
As of 2006, the MEASAT satellite network consists of three geostationary satellites designed and built by Boeing Satellite Systems. MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 were launched in 1996 and MEASAT-3
MEASAT-3
MEASAT-3 was successfully launched on December 12, 2006, 7.35 am from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.In March 2003, MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia ordered a Boeing 601HP satellite, giving it the designation MEASAT-3 at that time...
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
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and from Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. With the launch of MEASAT-3, the coverage extends even further to an area encompassing 70% of the world's population.
MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Boeing Satellite Systems signed a contract calling for the construction of the Malaysia East Asia Satellite (MEASAT) system. The system called for one Boeing 376 model spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
, equipment for a satellite control station on Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
Island, and training of Malaysian spacecraft controllers. Binariang exercised its option for a second satellite in January 1995.
MEASAT 1 has five high-power transponders in Ku band
Ku band
The Kμ band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies. This symbol refers to —in other words, the band directly below the K-band...
for the direct-to-user service, powered by 112-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. The regional service is provided on 12 transponders in C band
C band
The C band is a name given to certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including wavelengths of microwaves that are used for long-distance radio telecommunications. The IEEE C-band - and its slight variations - contains frequency ranges that are used for many satellite communications...
, using 12-watt solid state amplifiers. MEASAT-2 has 11 active transponders in Ku band. Eight of these use 95-watt traveling-wave amplifiers, and three have 62 watts. There also are six active transponders in C band, powered by 12-watt solid-state amplifiers.
As Boeing 376 spacecraft, the MEASAT satellites have three enhancements over the standard model. They were the first in the Boeing 376 series to be fitted with gallium arsenide solar cells, which deliver 40 percent more payload power as compared to their silicon predecessors. They were also the first Boeing 376s to use Boeing Satellite Systems' lightweight, high-gain shaped antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
. The satellites also used a more efficient bipropellant system for stationkeeping and attitude control maneuvers.
Both MEASAT-1 & 2 satellites were launched on Ariane
Ariane (rocket)
Ariane is a series of a European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. The name comes from the French spelling of the mythological character Ariadne....
rockets from Centre Spatial Guyanais
Centre Spatial Guyanais
The Guiana Space Centre or, more commonly, Centre Spatial Guyanais is a French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. Operational since 1968, it is particularly suitable as a location for a spaceport due to its proximity to the equator, and that launches are in a favourable direction over water...
at Kourou
Kourou
Kourou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.Kourou is the location of the Guiana Space Centre, France and ESA's main spaceport.-Geography:...
in French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. MEASAT-1 was launched in January 1996, and MEASAT-2 was launched in November 1996. MEASAT-1 is located in a geostationary orbit at 91.5 degrees East, and MEASAT-2 is located in a geostationary orbit at 148 degrees East
148th meridian east
The meridian 148° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
.
On 13 January 2010 brought into service the AFRICASAT-2 satellite at the 5.7°E orbital location. The AFRICASAT-2 satellite was previously known as MEASAT-2 and had been operating at the 148°E orbital location. Now operating in inclined orbit at the 5.7°E orbital location, AFRICASAT-2 provides both C and Ku-Band capacity for telecommunications and broadcasting services across Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East.
| Orbital Location | 91.5°East (0°N 91.5°W) |
| Geographic Coverage | South East Asia, northern Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... and Guam Guam Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United... |
| Launch Year | 1996 |
| Present Status | Operational |
| Type of Satellite | Boeing 376 HP |
| Launch vehicle | Ariane 4 Ariane 4 Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and manufactured and marketed by its subsidiary Arianespace. Ariane 4 was justly known as the ‘workhorse’ of the Ariane family. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the last, on 15 February 2003, it... |
| Design Lifetime | 12 years |
| SSPA Power | 12 Watts |
| Transponder Bandwidth | 12×36MHz |
| Channel Polarization | Linear |
MEASAT-3
MEASAT-3 was launched successfully on the 12th of December 2006, 7.35 am (Malaysian Time, GMT +8.00 HRS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. http://www.ilslaunch.com/zmedia/newsarchives/newsreleases/rec13/