# Optus D3

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q2027514](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2027514)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optus_D3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/optus-d3

## Summary
Optus D3 is a communications satellite operated by Optus, launched on 2009-08-21 via an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from ELA-3. It provides telecommunications services as part of Optus' satellite network infrastructure.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: 2009-08-21  
- **Operator**: Optus  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5 ECA  
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2009-044B  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 35756  
- **Freebase ID**: /m/07kfsp_  
- **Instance Of**: Communications satellite  
- **Wikipedia Title**: Optus D3  
- **Sitelink Count**: 3 (across German, English, and Portuguese Wikipedia)  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Optus D3 launched?  
A: Optus D3 was launched on 21 August 2009 from the ELA-3 launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre.  

### Q: Which company operates Optus D3?  
A: Optus, an Australian telecommunications company, operates the satellite as part of its satellite infrastructure.  

### Q: What rocket launched Optus D3?  
A: The satellite was deployed using an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle, a European heavy-lift rocket.  

### Q: What is the purpose of Optus D3?  
A: Optus D3 is a communications satellite designed to provide telecommunications services, likely covering Australia and surrounding regions.  

## Why It Matters  
Optus D3 represents a critical component of Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure, enabling satellite-based communications for broadcasting, internet, and mobile services. Its launch expanded Optus' satellite capacity, supporting connectivity in underserved regions and complementing ground-based networks. As part of Optus' long-term satellite fleet, it underscores the strategic importance of space-based infrastructure for national communication resilience and coverage. The satellite’s deployment via Europe’s Ariane 5 also highlights global collaboration in space technology.  

## Notable For  
- **Ariane 5 ECA Deployment**: One of the few commercial satellites launched by Ariane 5 ECA in 2009.  
- **COSPAR ID 2009-044B**: A unique identifier for tracking the satellite in official space registries.  
- **Multilingual Presence**: Recognized across German, English, and Portuguese-language Wikipedias.  
- **Operator Association**: Tied directly to Optus, a major Australian telecommunications provider.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on 21 August 2009 from ELA-3, the launch complex at Guiana Space Centre.  
- Deployed via an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle, a heavy-lift rocket developed by Arianespace.  
- Assigned COSPAR ID 2009-044B for international tracking and registry.  

### Operational Details  
- Operated by Optus, an Australian telecommunications company.  
- Functions as a communications satellite, facilitating telecommunications services.  
- Cataloged under Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 35756.  

### Identification and Documentation  
- Referenced on Freebase under ID /m/07kfsp_.  
- Featured on Wikipedia with titles in German, English, and Portuguese languages.  
- Sitelink count of 3 indicates limited but multilingual online coverage.  

### Technical Classification  
- Explicitly categorized as a "communications satellite" in Wikidata.  
- Associated with the broader class of "artificial satellite[s] designed for telecommunications."  
- Linked to Ariane 5 ECA as its launch vehicle in satellite classification systems.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report