Palapa-C1 blasts off into orbit

Palapa-C1 blasts off into orbit

By I. Christianto

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, U.S. (JP): The Atlas IIAS rocket lit
up the night sky as it thrust the Palapa-C1 satellite into orbit
at 8:15 p.m. on Monday (8:15 a.m. Jakarta time yesterday), 25
minutes later than scheduled.

Some 500 people, including Indonesians from various cities in
the United States, watched the launch from a viewing area eight
kilometers from pad 36-B at the Cape Canaveral Air Station.

The viewers enthusiastically helped the announcer count down
to takeoff. They whooped with delight when the four solid rocket
boosters blasted, pair by pair, creating a huge blaze 59.7
seconds after liftoff.

The Atlas IIAS rocket, carrying the first of Indonesia's new
generation of telecommunications satellites, could still be seen
117.7 seconds after blasting off.

The launch was originally scheduled for 7:50 p.m., but was
held for 25 minutes because the launch safety unit of the U.S.
Air Force ordered a safety signal clarification.

The satellite's first signal was received on schedule at the
master control station in Jakarta. The satellite separated from
the rocket 28 minutes after liftoff and sent its first signal 12
minutes later.

At the launch site, kiosks offering everything from aerospace
souvenirs to soft drinks did a steady business. Visitors were
allowed on the pad two hours before the launch to take pictures
and visit Spaceport, an aeronautics theme park inside the Kennedy
Space Center. Most of the spectators were employees, or their
relatives, of the satellite manufacturer, launching service firm
and the owners of the satellite.

A staff member of Lockheed Martin, the launch service firm,
said that the mission was witnessed by five busloads of people.
The viewing area can accommodate up to 25 busloads.

Indonesian Ambassador to the United States M. Arifin Siregar,
his Washington staff, and the consulate-generals in Houston and
Chicago were among the Indonesians watching the launch. A number
of Indonesians studying in Miami and Orlando also made the
journey to the Cape Canaveral Air Station.

Feeling

The Indonesian spectators expressed everything from joy to
pride as they watched the rocket cut through the night sky.

Petrus Sartono, a commissioner of PT Satelindo, which owns
Palapa-C1, was seen waving his hands up and down after liftoff,
as if helping the rocket enter space.

Another Satelindo commissioner, Tomy Winata, whispered "yes,
it works, it works," just after the countdown resumed following
the 25-minute hold. He looked restless during the delay.

The successful launch made the managing director of PT
Jasindo, Nurmeiman Usman, smile in relief. Jasindo is the state-
owned company which insured the satellite for US$179.8 million
(over Rp 413 billion).

The Palapa-C1 will join Indonesia's first successful
satellite, the Palapa A, which entered space in July 1976.

For the Americans, Jan. 31 is the day the first American
satellite, Explorer-1, was launched from Cape Canaveral 38 years
ago. Americans also commemorate Jan. 28, the day the Challenger
space shuttle exploded shortly after taking off in 1986, killing
all seven astronauts on board.