Arianespace postpones again 'Telkom-1' satellite launch<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): European company Arianespace again postponed the
\nlaunch date for state telecommunications company PT Telkom's
\nTelkom-1 satellite, Arianespace announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The company said in a statement the decision was made after an
\nelectrical anomaly was detected during a check of the Ariane-42P
\nrocket's third-stage cryogenic engine. The Ariane-42P is the
\nrocket which will be used to put the satellite in orbit.<\/p>\n
Because the anomaly was detected the day before the launch,
\nAriane decided to replace the system as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n
\"The replacement operation will require several days and a new
\nlaunch date will be announced as soon as possible,\" the company
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
It is the second time the launching of the Telkom-1 has been
\npostponed.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 was initially to be orbited on April 27 in a bi-
\nsatellite launch with the Asiastar satellite of United States-
\nbased company Worldspace. This launch was to occur with
\nArianespace's more advanced and powerful Ariane-5 rocket.<\/p>\n
However, because the Asiastar satellite was unprepared for the
\nlaunch, Arianespace and Telkom agreed to launch Telkom-1 on its
\nown from Kourou, French Guiana, on Aug. 4 aboard the Ariane-42P
\nrocket.<\/p>\n
Telkom said the delays did not affect its launch agreement
\ncontract with Arianespace.<\/p>\n
Arianespace signed in April 1997 a deal with Telkom to launch
\nthe Telkom-1 satellite on a Ariane-504 rocket in April this year
\nfrom the company's launch site in Kourou.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 was expected to begin its commercial operations in
\nSeptember, covering countries in Southeast Asian, as well as
\nnorthern Australia.<\/p>\n
The satellite, weighing 2,655 kilograms and carrying 24 C Band
\ntransponders and 12 Extended C Band transponders, will be the
\nthird Indonesian satellite launched by Arianespace. The company
\nlaunched Palapa C2 in May 1996 and Cakrawarta in November 1997.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 was developed to replace another one of Telkom's
\nsatellites currently in orbit, the Palapa-B2R, which is due to
\nend its service-life in mid-2001.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications Giri Suseno, who was in Kourou to
\nobserve the Telkom-1 launch, considered Arianespace's decision to
\ndelay the launch understandable, according to Telkom's acting
\nspokesperson Darmono.<\/p>\n
Darmono said Giri agreed it was safer to delay the launch and
\nexamine and replace the malfunctioning system, rather than
\nproceed with the launch and face a possible rocket or satellite
\nfailure.<\/p>\n
He said the electrical anomaly could affect the lift-off power
\nof the rocket and change the accuracy of the launch.<\/p>\n
Telkom's assistant vice president for internal relations,
\nWidarto, said Telkom expected the inspection and installment of
\nthe new electrical equipment on the Ariane-42P rocket could be
\ncompleted in nine days.<\/p>\n
\"We expect the rocket will be ready for launch by Friday next
\nweek,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 will provide various telecommunications services,
\nincluding high-speed Internet and multimedia access, a satellite
\ntelephony network, backbone transmissions and analog or digital
\nbroadcasts, for 20 years.<\/p>\n
The Telkom-1 satellite project cost around US$191.4 million,
\ncomprising a $84.8 million satellite contract with Lockheed
\nMartin, a $90.1 million launch contract with Arianespace, a $15
\nmillion insurance package with local firm Jasindo and $1.6
\nmillion for consultancy services from Canadian firm Telesat.
\n(43\/cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arianespace-postpones-again-telkom-1-satellite-launch-1447893297",
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