Satelindo makes preparation for satellite launch<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo), a
\nprivate telecommunications operator, is now in the final phase of
\npreparations for the launching of Palapa-C1, the first of the
\ncountry's new generation of telecommunication satellites.<\/p>\n
"We are in serious preparations for the Palapa-C1 launching,
\nwhich is scheduled for Jan. 31 from Cape Canaveral in Florida,
\nthe United States," Satelindo's chief operating officer,
\nDietfried Kuhn, said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The company's director of satellite systems, Sahala Silalahi,
\nsaid that the shipment of Palapa-C1 to the launch site had been
\nconducted on Dec. 12.<\/p>\n
"The launch preparations began early this month, both at the
\nlaunch site and at Satelindo's earth station on Jl. Daan Mogot,
\nWest Jakarta," Sahala said.<\/p>\n
He said that Palapa-C1, which was manufactured by Hughes of
\nthe United States, would replace Palapa-B2P at 113 degrees of the
\neast longitude at the end of its operational life next month.<\/p>\n
In 1993, Satelindo selected the European aerospace consortium
\nArianespace to be the launcher of its Palapa-C1 satellite, which
\nwas originally scheduled for launch in October or November 1995
\nfrom Kourou in French Guiana.<\/p>\n
Arianespace, however, delayed its launching schedules after
\ntwo failed launches in 1994 and rescheduled the launching of the
\nPalapa-C1 into April 1996. The government then asked the American
\nLockheed Martin to take over the launching, while Arianespace
\nwas, in turn, assigned to launch the Palapa-C2.<\/p>\n
Sahala said that the vehicle which will take Palapa-C1 into
\norbit is Atlas IIAS, the latest generation of the Atlas rocket
\nfamily built by Lockheed Martin Astronautics.<\/p>\n
The Palapa-C1, with a lifespan of about 14 years, has 34
\ntransponders, 28 of which (the standard C band and the extended C
\nband) will be operated by Satelindo, while six others (the KU
\nband) will be managed by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara.<\/p>\n
Palapa-C1's transponders would all be leased to domestic and
\nforeign subscribers, which were mainly broadcasting firms.<\/p>\n
"It will take about 44 days from the launch for Palapa-C1 to
\nreplace Palapa-B2P," Sahala said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the Palapa-B2P, Indonesia at present operates
\nthree satellites, Palapa-B2R (scheduled to end operation in March
\n1998) and Palapa-B4 (to end operation in April 2003). The Palapa-
\nB generation is operated by state-owned PT Telkom.<\/p>\n
Sahala said that at the earth station in Daan Mogot, Satelindo
\nhas prepared six antennas, comprising of a full motion antenna
\n(for the C band), three limited motion antennas (for C band) and
\ntwo limited motion antenna (for the KU band).<\/p>\n
The main mission of the US$30 million facility on Jl. Daan
\nMogot is to track satellites, to receive satellite telemetry, to
\nsend satellite command and to monitor satellite communications.
\nThe facility will fully control Palapa-C1 after the satellite is
\nin its' orbit.<\/p>\n
The earth station also has auxiliary components, including
\nequipment for orbit tests, communication system monitoring,
\ndynamic satellite simulation, orbital operations and power
\ngeneration.<\/p>\n
Satelindo, the owner of the Palapa-C generation, is 25 percent
\nowned by DeTeMobile of Germany, 45 percent owned by the widely-
\ndiversified Bimantara Group, 7.5 percent by PT Indosat and 22.5
\npercent by Telkom, both state-owned telecommunications companies.
\nBesides operating the Palapa C generation, Satelindo which was
\nestablished in January 1993, also operates international and
\ndigital cellular telecommunications services.<\/p>\n
According to Kuhn, in the coming years, Satelindo will collect
\ntwo-thirds of its revenues from the cellular telephone business,
\nwhile the remainder will be split almost equally between
\ninternational calls and the satellite business. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/satelindo-makes-preparation-for-satellite-launch-1447893297",
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