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MEASAT-3b launch rescheduled to September
MUMBAI: MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT) has announced that the launch of the MEASAT-3b satellite has been rescheduled to September 2014. The satellite will remain in storage at the European Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana till then.
MEASAT-3b had previously been scheduled for launch on 6 June 2014 GFT (7 June Kuala Lumpur time). The launch date was rescheduled after the manufacturer of the MEASAT-3b co-passenger requested time for repairs to their satellite.
“We are clearly disappointed with the delay and are currently in co-ordination with Arianespace (the launch service provider) on the rescheduling of the launch,” MEASAT chief executive officer Paul Brown-Kenyon had then said.
It can be noted that the initial date for launch of the satellite was 28 May, which was then rescheduled to 6 June. The reason cited then was to allow the MEASAT-3b co-passenger additional time to prepare for the launch.
When the launch was first postponed, MEASAT senior vice president – space system development Dr Ali Ebadi had said, “The main focus of the launch campaign is to ensure that both the satellite and launch vehicle are ready for launch. Given the complexity of the satellite and launch vehicle, it is not uncommon for the technical teams to request time for additional checks.”
With the satellite launch being pushed to September, Direct to Home (DTH) operator Sun Direct’s plans to move to MEASAT 3b and thus add nine transponders to its existing four and to also take its HD channel offering from the current 11 to 30 and SD from 210 channels to 350 will take a backseat.
“We will be shifting to MEASAT 3b and hence, will get nine transponders by first week of June. Our HD offering is currently low, but with the extra capacity we aim to take it to 30, while we expect the number of SD channels to go up to 350,”Sun Direct MD Mahesh Kumar had earlier told indiantelevision.com.
MEASAT-3b is designed to provide an additional 48 high powered Ku-band transponders at the 91.5°E orbital slot to expand DTH and VSAT services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia. Co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a, the satellite will more than double MEASAT’s Ku-band capacity at 91.5°E creating one of the region’s most powerful and robust orbital locations.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
