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.