Just crane unlucky: Measat 3A was damaged twice before repairs

As the Malaysian satellite operator Measat sues Intelsat over an alleged breach of contract and for alleged lost earnings due to a damage-related launch delay, Measat has revealed details about exactly how the damage was done to its Measat 3A satellite.

While it was known that the Measat 3A communications satellite was struck by an overhead crane hook duriing its Baikonur launch preparations in August 2008 (for which led a pre-launch insurance claim was paid out), less well known is that in November 2008, as the spacecraft was being loaded into its transport aircraft on its way back to the satellite's maker, Orbital Sciences, for repairs, the Measat 3A satellite was accidently dropped by another crane.  In the end Measat 3A was returned and successfully repaired, and was finally launched by a Zenit 3 SLB rocket flying from Baikonur in June 2009.