Thuraya 2 Satellite Launched Successfully
June 11, 2003
Abu-Dhabi, UAE- Thuraya has successfully launched its second satellite, the Thuraya-2 into geosynchronous orbit yesterday, thereby expanding its capacity and opening up new opportunities in its service and application offerings.
The Thuraya-2 satellite, placed into a position of 28.5 degrees East, will undergo strenuous in orbit testing over the coming weeks. It will then be repositioned closer to Thuraya-1, which now stands at 44 degrees East, in readiness for its new operational requirements.
The Thuraya-2 satellite was put into orbit yesterday by Sea Launch, which also deployed Thuraya-1 in 2000. The spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle about one hour and 40 minutes after the launch. This was followed minutes later by the receipt of its first signals to a Telemetry, Tracking and Control Station at Uralla, Australia, confirming normal operation.
"We are extremely pleased with the success of Thuraya 2. It will build on our current achievements, and enable us to substantially expand our satellite capacity. It will open up new directions of growth; whether we want to bolster capacity in some areas, expand into new markets, or diversify into new satellite based applications," said Thuraya’s Chairman Mohammad Omran.
Speaking on the occasion, Dave Ryan, president of BSSI said; " The newest light in the heavens is Thuraya-2, a mobile communications satellite that will help connect users on the move within a vast area of the globe. A thorough check-out on orbit lies ahead for the satellite, and we are confident that it will soon take its place as a vital long term asset supporting Thuraya’s future growth."
The Thuraya-2, designed to operate for 12 years, is a Boeing GEO-Mobile model satellite built by Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, California. BSS also designed and built the ground system and supplied handsets for the Thuraya network.