Launched on August 21, 2009, in tandem with the JCSat-12 satellite via an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from Europes Spaceport in French Guiana, the Optus D3 satellite occupies an orbital slot at 156 degrees East and is co-located with Optus C1.
Optus D3 is based on Orbital Sciences flight-proven STAR-2 bus and is among the most powerful GEO communications satellites ever built by Orbital. The satellite carries 24 active Ku-band transponders on a platform that is ideal for telephony, data and broadcasting applications. The Optus D3 generates approximately 5.0 kilowatts of payload power. The STAR-2 platform is able to accommodate most types of commercial communications payloads.
Images courtesy of Orbital Sciences