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Nusantara Dua satellite fails to reach orbit after launch from China
An Indonesian satellite failed to reach orbit from China on Thursday after the rocket carrying it experienced problems during the third stage of rocket separation.
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A team of experts from the China Great Wall Industry Corporation inspect the Nusantara Dua satellite at the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing. (courtesy/PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN)
T
he Nusantara Dua satellite, which is owned by several Indonesian companies, has failed to reach orbit after taking off from China on Thursday.
The satellite was carried by the Long March 3B rocket at liftoff from the Xichiang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan province at 7:46 p.m. local time on Thursday.
“However, there was an anomaly during the third stage of rocket separation and the satellite could not reach its predetermined orbit,” satellite operator Palapa Satelit Nusa Sejahtera (PSNS) said in its official statement on Thursday evening.
The newly built satellite is owned by satellite communications provider Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), telecommunication service provider Indosat Ooredoo and telecommunications company Pintar Nusantara Sejahtera (PNS).
The three companies established a joint venture called PT PSNS to serve as the satellite operator.
Read also: Indonesia launches first internet-only satellite with SpaceX rocket
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the satellite was destroyed during the launch. Authorities initiated an investigation into the launch failure.
The satellite, built by China Great Wall Industry Corporation, was supposed to replace the Palapa-D satellite located at 113 east longitude to provide broadband internet access and high-quality broadcasting services.
“Nusantara Dua is covered by insurance that fully covers satellite launch and operational risks,” PSNS president director Johanes Indri Triatmodjo said in an official statement.
The satellite weighs 5,550 kilograms and has 20x36 MHz C-band FSS transponders and 9.5 gigabit-per-second HTS. The satellite was to cover regions throughout the Asia-Pacific and Australia for C-band transponders and throughout Indonesia for HTS.
Despite the incident, Indosat Ooredoo chief business officer Bayu Hanantasena said the company remained committed to ensuring optimal customer services.
“We have a sustainable business plan and will work hard to make sure our customers won’t experience any disruption in our services,” he said in a statement sent to the Post on Saturday.
Editor’s note:
The story has been updated to include a statement from Indosat Ooredoo.
