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Telkom 3S satellite reaches launch pad
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The Telkom 3S satellite will be launched on Feb. 14 from the spaceport in French Guiana. (JP/Winny Tang)
T
he Telkom 3S satellite was successfully rolled out from the final assembly building (BAF) to the launch zone on Monday afternoon, Kourou time.
The satellite, which aims to improve telecommunications services across Indonesia, was carried by a truck for three kilometers at a speed of four kilometers per hour from the BAF to the launch pad.
“Today is a long day. It started at six [in the morning] and it will end at 10 p.m. tonight for fueling operations,” said Jean-Christophe Delaunay, deputy head of mission at Arianespace, on Monday in Kourou.
During the moving process, the truck carrying the satellite to the launch pad encountered a problem, resulting in delays of a couple of hours.
(Read also: Telkom 3S set to launch on Valentine’s Day)
Bruno Gérard, vice president of Arianespace in French Guiana, said the problem was with the truck, not the satellite.
“This morning we had additional verification on the upper stage and the engine,” he added.
On Tuesday, Arianespace’s first Ariane 5 in 2017 will orbit two communications satellites, the SKY Brasil-1 and the Telkom 3S, from the space center. (bbn)
