BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan: Malaysia's newest satellite, MEASAT-3a, blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5.50 am Malaysian time here today. It was launched in cool and windy condition. MEASAT-3a was supposed to have been launched in August last year, but a overhead crane accident damaged it while it was being prepared for launch and had to be returned to Dulles for repair. The US$165 million MEASAT-3a will increase the company's amount of satellite capacity significantly.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim led a group of 50 people to witness the launch of Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd's fourth satellite, replacing MEASAT 1 and 2 which are scheduled to complete its service in 2015.
The satellite will be operational in July. Rais said he was jubilant and proud of the successful launch as it would help enhance Malaysia's position in the international satellite business as well as broadcasting.
"It will also lay the groundwork for Malaysians themselves to design, create and manufacture their own satellite in the future and not depend on others, a move which would be regarded as a "shot in the arm" for Malaysia's creative industry," he said after witnessing the launch of 2,366kg MEASAT-3a here.
The launch was telecast live over Awani, on Astro channel 501. Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa was also prsent. Rais said this was the first time he witnessed a satellite launch.
MEASAT-3a, manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corp of Dulles, US, was a historical ocassion for 14 top students from Malaysia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.For them, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness a satellite launch.
The five Malaysian students were: Ahmad Ruiz Mohd Asri from Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur; Edmund Chen Min Lau from Kuching, Sarawak; Lina Na'ilah Abdul Talip from Kajang; Chandra Sekhar Kuppusamy from Johor Baru, and Cliff Asher R. Ongil from Beaufort, Sabah. -- Bernama
About Me
- Nuang
- Ibrahim bin Ramli@Nuang started his career with CIMB Wealth Advisors Berhad as Agency Manager in April, 2008.Previously he was an Internal Auditors and Accounts Executive with Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd since 17 August, 1994. His background:- 1.Certified of Achievement for Master Sales Leadership from Dr Lawrence Walter Ng of President of The Art Of Learning and International Of Learning Without Learning 2.Certified for eXtra Ordinary Performance of Lawrence Walter Award Certificate for One Million Ringgit Club 2007 3. Certified Life & General insurances 4. Conferred with Diploma in Business Studiess & Bachelor of Business Admin(Hons)Finance from UiTM, Terengganu Branch & Shah Alam respectively;
music
Create a playlist at MixPod.com
