Optus D3
Australian geostationary communications satellite
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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]
| 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 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]
Optus D3 will be visited by Mission Extension Vehicle-1, which will dock to Optus D3 and extend the mission of the satellite by 5-7 years.
