December 31, 2006, New Straits Times, The satellite's the limit,

COPYRIGHT 1999 The New Straits Times Press

(From New Straits Times (Malaysia))

KUALA LUMPUR: 91.5 degrees east longitude. Bear in mind this orbital position. This is where Measat-3, Malaysia's billion-ringgit satellite will be positioned after its 36,000km space ride.

This will happen on Jan 26 or 27.

Dr Ali Ebadi, Measat's vice-president of engineering and operations, said: "Once this is completed, Measat will assume full control of the satellite through its teleport in Cyberjaya and Measat-3 will be ready for commercial use." When this happens, there will be more services for Astro subscribers.

Tun Hanif Omar, director of Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, said: "There will be a wider choice of television channels as well as new services such as broadband data to homes, high-definition television and near video on demand." Measat-3's C-band transponders can reach more than 110 countries, while its Ku-band transponders will cover Malaysia, Indonesia and South Asia.

Datuk Umar Abu, chairman of Measat's listed parent company, Measat Global Bhd, said: "The new satellite will increase the capacity at our key orbital location by 300 per cent, and expand our 'footprint' to over 70 per cent of the world's population across three continents.

"With RM1 billion committed to this project, we are delighted that we are on schedule to begin recouping our investment." The Boeing-built Measat-3 was launched from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on Dec 12.

On Dec 23, 11 days after its launch, Measat-3 was moved into a geostationary orbit along the equator at 91 degrees longitude above the northeastern Indian Ocean. Ebadi said: "To operate effectively, Measat-3 must appear stationary in relation to the earth's rotation, an effect we describe as 'geostationary'. "This is crucial because antennas receiving satellite signals, householders' Astro dishes, for example, are pointed in one fixed direction. "If the satellite does not remain stationary when viewed from the earth, then signals to the antennas are disrupted.

"To maintain its geostationary orbit, Measat-3 has to spin around our planet at a speed of 11,000kph." Once Measat-3 was placed in geostationary orbit, its array of communications equipment, including the six reflectors used to create the satellite's "footprint" over the earth and solar panels used to generate electrical power in orbit, was ready for deployment.

"The first four large reflectors - two Ku-band covering Indonesia and South Asia and two C-band - were deployed by opening up its antennas from the initial compressed position. Following this, the solar arrays (solar cells wings) were deployed, expanding to full length exactly as performed in dry runs during on-ground trials before the launch," he said. "This deployment was a vital step in ensuring the successful operation of Measat-3 as the solar cells convert photons from the sun's light into electricity to power the satellite's electronic equipment." On Christmas Day, the remaining two large reflectors which produce the Malaysian Ku-band beam and a global C- band beam were deployed, followed by the deployment of sub-reflectors and the Unified Antenna Structure.

The solar arrays of the fully-deployed satellite were then oriented towards the sun's rays, a procedure called "sun acquisition". The antennas of the satellite were oriented towards the earth, called "earth acquisition".

The satellite is now in its operational configuration.

Full deployment of Measat- 3's reflectors and solar panels mark another beginning for the engineering team: The process of examining its many instruments to make sure the satellite functions completely.

"Checking the electromechanical equipment including, batteries, thrusters and radiators, known as Bus IOT (In Orbit Test), was done within two days.

"We are performing the 'Payload IOT' to check the performance of all the communication components.

"Testing of the antennas, satellite beams, frequencies, amplifiers, transponders and hundreds of switches is scheduled for completion on Jan 17. "During this period, we turn on the satellite beams, enabling Measat-3's signals to be received throughout the region of its footprint for the first time." Full functionality of the beams is verified by creating a map of the antennas' transmitting power and receiving power over the surface of the earth for comparison against specifications during factory tests.

"As the new satellite can interfere with the transmissions from the existing Measat-1 satellite, located 0.5 degrees away in the orbital arc, the IOT is performed in co-ordination with Measat's clients to ensure that there is minimal disruption to their customers.

"Only on completion of the IOT at the 91 degrees east orbital position can the fully-functional satellite be moved into its final 91.5 degrees east slot," said Ebadi.