SpaceX launching Indonesian satellite
February 20, 2024
By Chris Forrester
Telkomsat-113BT (Merah Putih 2) is due for a launch today [February 20], weather permitting, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 3.11pm Florida-time when the launch window opens.
The High Throughput Satellite launch will happen from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The customer is PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia (Telkomsat) and will be placed at 113 degrees East.
This will be the seventeenth launch of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, mPOWER-a, PSN SATRIA, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
HTS-113BT is a telecommunications satellite using C-band/Ku-Band which will provide over 32 Gb/s capacity over Indonesia. It is operated by PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia, a state-owned digital telecommunication company in Indonesia, and has an expected lifetime of 15 years. The satellite is built on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform and will weigh about 4,000 kg (8818 lb) at launch.
The satellite’s order was placed in October 2021. Thales Alenia Space will fully support ground control and Telkomsat’s team of engineers during the ongoing cooperation agreement. Other support will also be provided by Thales Alenia Space throughout the satellite’s lifetime.
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