Thuraya 3

United Arab Emirates

Spacecraft nº:

UAE satellite nº: 3

Launch data:

Designation	32404 / 08001A
Launch date	15 Jan 2008 - 11:49 UT
Launch site	Odyssey, POR
Launch vehicle	Zenit-3SL
Mission	Commercial: Communications
Earth orbit on Jan 15.52:
Perigee / Apogee	723 x 35806 km
Inclination	6.19°
Period	641.64 min
Geostationary orbit on Jan 27.25:
Perigee / Apogee	35779 x 35811 km
Eccentricity	4.86E-04
Inclination	6.18°
Period	1436.53 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	Boeing GEM
Operator	Thuraya Satellite Comms
Platform	BSS-GEM (Geomobile)
Mass at launch	5173 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape	Box
Dimension (m)
Solar array	2 vanes of solar panels
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	12.5 years

Location:

Begin	End	Position
Jan 2008		98.5° E

Mission details:

A Boeing GEM (GEO Mobile) communications satellite with a large antenna for cellphone service was launched by Boeing Sea Launch Zenit-3SL on Jan 15. The Zenit-3SL returned to flight successfully after its 2006 failure. The payload is Thuraya 3, for Thuraya Satellite Comms. based in Abu Dhabi and was inserted into a 729 x 35889 km x 6.2 deg orbit.
Mobile phone communications in eastern Asia, Middle East and Australia.

Ref.: #7(JR590), #78a, #207, #225, #226 - update: 15.06.08