New Indonesian satellite fails to launch

Details: James Barton; Category: Satellite Networks; 15 April 2020; 5207 views

Indonesia’s new Nusantara Dua (Palapa N1) satellite did not enter its allocated orbital slot on schedule and has reportedly been destroyed.

IndoTelko reported that the satellite was supposed to reach its slot on 9th April 2020, in time to replace Indosat’s Palapa-D satellite in 113 East Longitude which is due to be retired in June.

However, the craft carrying Palapa N1 failed to execute the third stage of its deployment and according to reports “the cargo – alias Nusantara Dua – also fell into the sea so it could not be saved.”

The satellite was manufactured by China Great Wall Industry Corporation and assembled by Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) together with Indosat Ooredoo and Pintar Nusantara Sejahtera (PNS). The latter three companies had formed a joint venture to operate the satellite.

The companies had hoped that the satellite would help with delivering high-quality broadcast and remote broadband access, with PSN president Adi Rahman saying earlier this month “We hope Nusantara Dua will further strengthen the position of the PSN business group as a major and leading player in the Indonesian satellite industry.”