Optus D3

Optus D3
Mission type Communication
Operator Optus
COSPAR ID 2009-044B
SATCAT № 35756
Mission duration 15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus Star-2.4
Manufacturer Orbital Sciences
Launch mass 2,401 kilograms (5,293 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 21 August 2009, 22:09 UTC
Rocket Ariane 5ECA
Launch site Kourou ELA-3
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 156° east
Perigee 35,778 kilometres (22,231 mi)[1]
Apogee 35,808 kilometres (22,250 mi)[1]
Inclination 0.05 degrees[1]
Period 1436.12 minutes[1]
Epoch 23 January 2015, 19:12:10 UTC[1]

Optus D3 is an Australian geostationary communications satellite, which is operated by Optus and provides communications services to Australasia. D3 was the third Optus-D satellite to be launched. It is a 2,401-kilogram (5,293 lb) satellite, which was constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on the Star-2.4 satellite bus, with the same configuration as the earlier Optus D2 satellite.[2]

It was launched, along with the Japanese JCSAT-12 satellite, by Arianespace. An Ariane 5ECA rocket was used for the launch, which occurred from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 22:09 GMT on 21 August 2009, at the start of a 60 minute launch window.[3]

Optus D3 separated from its carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit using an IHI -500-N apogee motor. It has a design life of fifteen years, and carries thirty two J band transponders (US IEEE Ku band).[2]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "OPTUS D3 Satellite details 2009-044B NORAD 35756". N2YO. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Krebs, Gunter. "Optus D2, D3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  3. "Preparations continue with the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 payloads for Ariane 5's next launch". Mission Update. Arianespace. 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2009-08-21.