Malaysia's newest satellite, the MEASAT-3a satellite blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome exactly on schedule at 5.50 am Malaysian time on June 22.

Launched amid perfectly cool and windy conditions, the 165 million-USD communications satellite blasted off on its mission to enhance Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd's satellite capacity significantly, Bernama news agency reported.

MEASAT-3a was supposed to have been launched in August last year, but an overhead crane accident damaged it while it was being prepared for launch and had to be returned to Dulles in Washington for repair.

To be operational in July, MEASAT-3a will replace MEASAT-1 which is scheduled to complete its service in 2015.

The MEASAT-3a satellite is being lifted into orbit by a Zenit-3SLB Launch vehicle on its way until its final location at 91.5 degrees East Longitude, according to Bernama./.