BAIKONUR (Kazakhstan) June 22 -- MEASAT-3a blasts off successfullyÃÅ from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5.50 am (Malaysian time) on Monday.Launched amid perfectly cool and windy conditions, the US$165 million communications satellite blasted off on its mission to enhance Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd's satellite capacity significantly.To be operational in July, MEASAT-3a will replace MEASAT-1 which is scheduled to complete its service in 2015.--fotoBERNAMA COPYRIGHT RESERVED

photographed by: MIKHAIL RAJ