ASTRA 3A was the 56th Boeing 376 satellite to be delivered. The popular and versatile Boeing 376 spin-stabilized spacecraft was the first satellite to be launched by a space shuttle. First built by Hughes Electronics Corp., all Boeing 376 models have two telescoping solar panels and antennas that fold for compactness during launch. They are available in several configurations and can be boosted by any of the world's major launch vehicles. The first Boeing 376 satellite model was launched in 1980, and in 2002, the Boeing 376 was the world's second most purchased satellite after the Boeing 601.