Five spacecraft firms to bid for Palapa-D project

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has invited Hughes Space and Communications Company, Lockheed Martin, Loral Corporation, Matra Marconi and Aerospatiale to submit proposals for manufacturing the Palapa-D satellite series.

A senior Telkom executive, Arifin Nugroho, said yesterday that the Palapa-D1 satellite, the first of the planned two spacecraft, is slated for operation within the next two years and the Palapa- D2 in 2003.

"We expect to receive bids soon. If everything goes well, we will be able to decide the winner by the end of this year as the first satellite will be launched in late 1998," he said during a break of a hearing between Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave and House Commission V for transportation, tourism and telecommunications.

Hughes of the United States is the manufacturer of two Palapa- A and four Palapa-B satellites operated by Telkom as well as the two satellites of the Palapa-C series operated by PT Satelindo. Lockheed Martin is one of the top defense contractors in the United States, while Loral is another leading aerospace company in the U.S. Matra Marconi is a French-British aeronautics and space company, while Aerospatiale is a French aerospace firm.

The Palapa-D project, which will consist of two satellites, is being developed by Telkom and its subsidiary PT Satelindo, the operator of the Palapa-C1 and Palapa-C2 satellites.

Each of the Palapa-D satellites is designed to have 60 transponders, including the high-frequency Ku-band, which will reach up to 11 gigahertz and 12 gigahertz.

Telkom and Satelindo will each control 30 transponders on the Palapa-D1 satellite.

Arifin said that the Palapa-D1 will have wider coverage than the Palapa-C1 and Palapa-C2, which are currently in orbit.

Arifin, who is responsible for technology affairs, refused to talk about the financial arrangements for the Palapa-D project.

Industrial sources said that the project is likely to cost more than twice as much as the US$200 million spent on the Palapa-C satellite with 34 transponders.

In a related development, Director General of Post and Telecommunications Djakaria Purawidjaja said that a team of government officials and executives from Telkom and Satelindo will register today the orbital slots for the Palapa-D1 and Palapa-D2 with the International Telecommunications Union in Geneva.

"The Palapa-D1 will orbit at 108 degrees east longitude, replacing the Palapa-B2R currently in operation, while the Palapa-D2 will replace the Palapa-B4 which orbits at 118 degrees east longitude," he said.

The Palapa-B2R is expected to end its operation in March 1998 and Palapa-B4 in April 2003.

Djakaria said the team expects to report its registration results on Friday. (icn)