[11-19-07 – Satellite Today] Thuraya is counting down to the launch of its Thuraya-3 satellite, which is set for Nov. 19 following several days of delays due to unfavourable sea conditions.
    The mission, the first for Sea Launch since the company’s January failure, will place Thuraya-3 into a 98.5° East slot, where it will provide mobile voice and data services to the Asia-Pacific market. The satellite, manufactured by Boeing, will be the third Thuraya spacecraft placed into orbit by Sea Launch, following Thuraya-1 in 2000 and Thuraya-2 in 2003.
     Thuraya hopes to begin operations in the region as early as January. Thuraya already has completed all ground network preparations for Thuraya-3, and had set-up commercial infrastructure with several partners in East Asia, in preparation for the commercial launch of services, Thuraya CEO Yousuf Al Sayed said.