Indostar launch delayed

JAKARTA (JP): The country's first direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) Indostar-1 of PT Datakom Asia will be launched on Oct. 15, delayed from its original schedule between Aug. 15 and Sep. 30, the company said here yesterday.

The spacecraft, to be owned and operated by Datakom's subsidiary PT MediaCitra Indostar, is manufactured by CTA Incorporated of the United States.

Datakom said the new launching was based on the most recent schedule provided by CTA, while Indostar-1 would be shipped to the launch site on Aug. 21

The satellite, to operate on the 107.7 eastern degree, will be launched by the European aerospace consortium Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana.

Datakom is owned by the state-owned PT Indosat, PT Asriland, PT Azbindo Nusantara, PT Lembah Subur Adipertiwi and PT Persada Giri Abadi.

The Indostar-1 project is worth US$135 million, including the launching cost. (icn)