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]

Optus D3

Mission type	Communication
Operator	Optus
COSPAR ID	2009-044B
SATCAT no.	35756
Website	http://www.optus.com.au/about/network/satellite/fleet/b3
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 (2009-08-21UTC22:09Z) UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5ECA
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	156° east
Perigee altitude	35,778 kilometres (22,231 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude	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]

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

• 2009 in spaceflight

References

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