By Mohamed Haikal Isa, Bernama
Tuesday, September 26 2000 10:01 PM
URL: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,13029638,00.htm

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan--Malaysia's first microsatellite Tiungsat-1 was successfully launched into orbit at 4.05pm local time, 6.05pm, Malaysian Standard Time (MST) today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Launching Centre here.

Tiungsat-1 was launched together with Italy's microsatellites MegSat-1 and UniSat and Saudi Arabia's SaudiSat-A and SaudiSat-B using the launch vehicle, Dnepr rocket.

Tiungsat-1 was originally scheduled to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Aug 25 but had to be postponed when computers showed pressure changes in the launching system of the booster rocket, Dnepr.

Dnepr, is an Intercontinental Guided Ballistic Missile (ICBM SS-18 "Satan") which had been modified for use in space missions.

Tiungsat-1 which weighs about 50kg was built with technical cooperation among the ATSB, the Space Science Studies Division (BAKSA) of the Prime Minister's Department and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) of the United Kingdom.

Tiungsat-1 will take pictures of the earth's surface to determine pollution, forestry and agricultural activities as well as for meteorological use and in monitoring disasters.

Managing Director of Astronautics Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said "at last we made it after three years. The satellite has been successfully put into orbit."

Dr Sabirin said Tiungsat-1 would be in Lower Earth Orbit or LEO at an altitude of 650KM from the earth's surface.

He said Tiungsat-1 2 would be in contact with the Earth Satellite Station at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) seven hours after the launch at 1am MST.