YB Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim and the MEASAT delegation in front of MEASAT-3a's Zenith–3SLB launch vehicle in Baikonur Cosmodrome
YB Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister for Information, Communication and Culture witnessed the launch of MEASAT's fourth satellite, the MEASAT-3a at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 22 June 2009. En. Abd Razak Abdul Wahab, Chargé d'affaires a.i. accompanied YB Minister during the launch event.
In the press conference in Moscow after the launch, YB Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais applauded the launch's success calling it "another great achievement for MEASAT, and for the Malaysian space industry." YB Minister also welcomed MEASAT's initiative to bring along 5 Malaysian students to witness the launch as part of its CSR programme to spur the interest of more young Malaysians in the field of science and technology, particularly space technology.
Russia has been leasing the Baikonur Cosmodrome from the Kazakhstan Government since 2005 for a period of 45 years. The launch site is currently the most successful land launch site for both manned and unmanned missions in the world.
Additional Photos from the Event
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