Arianespace’s second launch of 2022 — the first Ariane 5 of the year — will place the MEASAT-3d and GSAT-24 satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GEO), with the launch occurring from Kourou, French Guiana. The launcher will be carrying a total payload of approximately 10,863 kg.
MEASAT-3d is a multi-mission, telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space for MEASAT. This new satellite will significantly enhance broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps in areas that possess limited or no terrestrial network throughout Malaysia, all the while continuing to provide redundancy and additional capacity for video distribution in HD, 4K, and ultimately 8K, in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Planned for more than 18 years of operation, MEASAT-3d is designed to have electrical power of 12 kW. The satellite will carry C- and Ku-band payloads for direct-to-home (DTH) services and a high-throughput Ka-band payload with multiple user spot beams optimized to deliver high speed broadband communications over Malaysia for internet connectivity.
The satellite will also host a Q/V-band payload, the first of its kind in APAC, which allows MEASAT to study propagation effects in high rainfall regions such as Malaysia, to enable the design of the company’s next generation satellites. MEASAT-3d will be co-located with MEASAT-3a and MEASAT-3b at the 91.5°E orbital slot. This will be the fourth satellite launched by Arianespace for MEASAT and will be the 137th Airbus Defence and Space satellite to be launched by Arianespace.
Co-passenger GSAT-24 is a Ku-band, 4 ton communications satellite built for NewSpace India (NSIL) by ISRO. This satellite will provide high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services and will meet the DTH needs of Indian customers. GSAT-24 is configured on ISRO’s proven I-3k bus and has an expected mission life of 15 years.
Satellite capacity on-board GSAT-24 has been leased by NSIL to Tata Play, a leader in Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, enabling better and additional, reliable services to customers.
GSAT-24 will be the 25th Indian satellite launched by Arianespace and the 11th of the GSAT series. The relationship between ISRO and Arianespace dates back to 1981 with the launch of the APPLE satellite on an Ariane 1.