Pakistan plans to lease the Hughes Global Systems' HGS 3 satellite in orbit for five years for $9.1 million in a move designed to save its reserved 38¡E slot in geostationary orbit before it expires in April 2003. Pakistan has been planning to order a proprietary communications satellite for years. The craft will be renamed Paksat. HGS cannot provide any performance guarantees for the satellite, however. Due to a battery problem, the craft has to be shut down during eclipse periods for 3h each day, losing 88 days a year.
Source: Flight International