On August 21, 2009 the Orbital-built Optus D3 GEO communications satellite was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Optus D3 is the third GEO communications satellite designed and built by Orbital for Optus Networks in Sydney, Australia. In the coming weeks the satellite will undergo in-orbit testing before being handed over to the customer and entering service.
Providing Ku-band communications for direct television broadcasting, internet, telephony, and data transmission to Australia and New Zealand, D3 will expand coverage at the same orbital slot as Orbital’s earlier Optus C1 satellite, located at 156 degrees East Longitude. Based on Orbital’s STAR bus, Optus D3 carries a total of 32 transponders and is among the most powerful GEO communications satellites ever built by Orbital. Optus D3 will generate approximately 5.0 kW of payload power with a mission life of 15 years.
About STAR™ Satellites
Orbital’s highly successful communications satellites are based on the company’s STAR spacecraft platform, which is able to accommodate all types of commercial communications payloads. The STAR design is optimized for small to medium satellite missions, generating between two and five kilowatts of payload power.
For many applications, the lighter-weight, more-affordable STAR design is an attractive alternative to the larger, more costly satellites offered by other suppliers. Orbital’s STAR satellites are smaller and significantly less expensive to manufacture and launch. They are an ideal fit for established companies that require incremental capacity for their network or for customers in the early stages of building their business.
For more information:
Optus D-Series web page
Optus D3 fact sheet
STAR Brochure
Optus web site
Airanespace web site |
