Kuala Lumpur – Measat Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (MEASAT) satellite Measat-3a was, at press time, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in final preparations for launch. The satellite, manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, US, was scheduled for launch on a Zenit 3-SLB Landlaunch launch vehicle at 3.50am local time (5:50 a.m. KL time) on Monday 22 June 2009. Measat-3a, the company’s fourth satellite, will add an additional 12 Ku-Band and 12 C-Band transponders to its fleet, increasing by 50% the amount of satellite capacity at its prime 91.5ºE orbital hotslot. With Ku-Band coverage of Malaysia and Indonesia, and a C-Band beam that reaches over 110 countries representing 70% of the world’s population, the satellite will support the continued growth of the company’s broadcasting and telecommunications business.