BAIKONUR (Kazakhstan): At 5.50 am Malaysian time yesterday, a Russian-made rocket launched the 2,417 kg satellite into space as more than 50 Malaysians gathered to watch the launch of Measat-3a at the Cosmodrome from several kilometers from the launch site.
The satellite is manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation, USA, at a cost of RM600mil.
Courtesy: The Star
- The group, led by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, had gathered at specially set up tents near the launch pad.
- Dr Rais, who was watching a rocket launch live for the first time, said he was “very proud and jubilant.
This has expended Malaysia’s technological leap into the future as a successful nation. The challenge now is whether young Malaysians can one day create their own rockets to send into space,” he said. - Dr Rais also said the Government would work closely with private corporations to develop a training programme for students interested in outer space advancements.
- Astro TV chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan said besides providing a backup for Measat-3, the new satellite would enable the company to introduce more products and services.
- Later at a press conference in Moscow, Measat vice-president of engineering and operations Dr Ali R. Evadi said the satellite was in the transfer orbit where it would remain for about a week before moving into the designated 91.50E orbital hotslot.
- The satellite with a 15-year life span successfully separated from the launch vehicle at 12.15pm Malaysian time.
- PMR 2007 top-scorers K. Chandra Sekhar, Cliff Asher, Ahmad Ruiz, Lina Na’ilah and Edmund Lau from Malaysia were among a group of 14 from Indonesia, India, Britain and the Philippines who were on an all-expense paid trip to observe the launch and the Russian space industry.
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