Thuraya-3 satellite successfully launched to orbit

Thuraya’s third geo-mobile satellite lifted off at 11:49 GMT on 15 January 2008 from the Odyssey Launch Platform in the Pacific. A Zenit-3SL rocket placed the 5,173 kg Boeing-built satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with spacecraft separation 99 minutes after lift-off.

Thuraya-3 was positioned at 98.5° East, about 35,786 km above the Earth, bringing countries of the Asia-Pacific under Thuraya’s footprint. With it, Thuraya’s coverage extended to nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.

Thuraya had launched all three of its geo-mobile satellites with Sea Launch, and all three missions were successful.