An organization formed in 1981 by the federal government of Australia and Telecom Australia to own and operate Australia's domestic satellite system. It has now been renamed the Optus Corporation. The first satellite, AUSSAT-1, was launched by the US space shuttle Discovery in 1985, and the third satellite was launched from French Guiana in 1987 by the European Space Agency's Ariane rocket launcher. The AUSSAT satellite system enables people in remote outback areas of Australia to receive television broadcasts.