Palapa-D Explained

Palapa-D
Mission Type:Communication
Operator:Indosat Ooredoo
Cospar Id:2009-046A
Spacecraft Type:Spacebus
Spacecraft Bus:Spacebus-4000B3
Manufacturer:Thales Alenia Space[1]
Power:6 kW
Launch Date:31 August 2009, 09:28 UTC
Launch Rocket:Long March 3B / E
Launch Site:Xichang, LA-2
Launch Contractor:China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Entered Service:November 2009
Disposal Type:Graveyard orbit
Deactivated:31 August 2020 (officially)
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit[2]
Orbit Regime:Geostationary orbit
Orbit Longitude:113° East
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:40 transponders:
35 C-band
5 Ku-band
Trans Coverage:Parts of Europe, Asia, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Central Asia, South Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Indonesia, East Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Oceania, Australia, New Zealand
Programme:Palapa constellation
Previous Mission:Palapa-C2

Palapa-D was an Indonesian geostationary communications satellite which was operated by Indosat Ooredoo. It was built by Thales Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus-4000B3 satellite bus, and carries 35 C-band and 5 Ku-band transponders. It was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 113° East, where it replaced the Palapa-C2 satellite.[3]

Indosat ordered Palapa-D from Thales Alenia Space on 2 July 2007.[4] The satellite was built without using American components, and was therefore not restricted by U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR),[5] which allowed the China Great Wall Industry Corporation to be selected as a launch service provider.[6]

Launch

A Long March 3B launch vehicle, flying from Launch Area-2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre was used to launch Palapa-D. A problem with the third stage of its carrier rocket left it in an incorrect orbit,[7] which was subsequently corrected using the spacecraft's onboard propulsion system.

After launch, Palapa-D was to have separated from its launch vehicle into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), however one of its two identical upper-stage engines failed to deliver the necessary thrust,[8] [9] resulting in it reaching a lower orbit than planned. The S400 apogee motor of the satellite was subsequently used in for raise it into geostationary orbit.

Recovery and operations

On 3 September 2009, the satellite's orbit was adjusted, placing it into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).[10] It reached geostationary orbit on 9 September 2009.[11] It underwent on-orbit testing, and arrived at its orbital slot of 113° East in mid-September 2009. After completing its testing, it is now being used to provide communications to Asia and Australia.

Palapa-D was built with a design life of fifteen years, but due to the expenditure of fuel during maneuvers to correct its orbit, it was expected to have enough fuel for about ten years of operations, according to Reynald Seznec, President of Thales Alenia Space.[12] [13]

Thales Alenia Space announced that the Palapa-D communications satellite is now positioned at its final location (113° East) and fully ready for operations for more than 10.5 years.[14]
On 31 August 2020, Palapa-D was officially declared inadequate for operation after it was close to running out of fuel for stationkeeping and all of its transponder services were officially moved to Telkom-4 (Merah Putih) and BRIsat satellites for broadcasting and data services respectively.

Replacement

Palapa-D was planned to be replaced by the Nusantara Dua (Palapa-N1) satellite; the launch of Nusantara Dua on 9 April 2020 by Chinese Long March 3B/E launch vehicle was a failure, resulting in the loss of the satellite. A replacement satellite (Nusantara-2R or Palapa-N1R) to be built by the same manufacturer (China Academy of Space Technology/CAST) is being considered, albeit with possibly different specifications with the lost one. However, on 28 October 2021, Telkomsat awarded the replacement satellite (working designation HTS-113BT) contract to Thales Alenia Space instead of CAST using the Spacebus-4000B2 platform, with planned launch for 2024. The HTS-113BT is expected to have similar specifications to the lost one.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thales Alenia Space statement concerning Palapa-D satellite. 2009-09-02. Thales Group. 29 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904185424/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/space_020909_Thales_Alenia_Space_statement_concerning_Palapa-D_satellite/. 4 September 2009. dead.
  2. Web site: PALAPA D. N2YO.com. 29 April 2021.
  3. Web site: 2 July 2007 . Thales Alenia Space To Build Palapa-D Satellite For Indosat . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180915160245/http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Thales_Alenia_Space_To_Build_Palapa_D_Satellite_For_Indosat_999.html . 15 September 2018 . 23 August 2009 . Space Mart .
  4. Web site: China to launch Indonesia's communications satellite. https://web.archive.org/web/20090901130218/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/29/content_11964124.htm. dead. 1 September 2009. China View. 2009-08-29.
  5. Web site: US firms tired of being shut out. https://web.archive.org/web/20081206055945/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JL04Ad01.html. 2008-12-06. Brown. Peter J.. 2008-12-04. Asia Times. 2009-08-23. dead.
  6. Web site: PT Indosat Picks Chinese Rocket To Launch Its New Telecom Sat. 2007-07-29. Space News. April 29, 2023.
  7. News: Barbosa . Rui C . 31 August 2009 . Chang Zheng-3B suffers third stage problem during Palapa-D launch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610141355/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/08/chang-zheng-3b-suffers-third-stage-problem-palapa-d/ . 10 June 2023 . 31 August 2009 . .
  8. News: Indonesian satellite launched in China fails to enter orbit. https://web.archive.org/web/20090903172605/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/31/content_11973680.htm. dead. 3 September 2009. Tong. Xiong. 2009-08-31 . Xinhua . 2009-08-31.
  9. News: de Selding . Peter B. . Long March Mishap Findings Due by Mid-November . live . https://archive.today/20240124145102/https://spacenews.com/long-march-mishap-findings-due-mid-november/ . 24 January 2024 . .
  10. Web site: Thales Alenia Space statement concerning orbital positioning of the Palapa-D satellite. 2009-09-03. Thales Group. 2009-09-11. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727113143/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/space_030909_Thales_Alenia_Space_statement_concerning_orbital_positioning_of_the_Palapa-D_satellite/?pid=1575. 27 July 2011.
  11. Web site: Palapa-D communications satellite now in geostationary orbit. Thales Group. 2009-09-09. 2009-09-11 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727113255/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/space_090909_Palapa-D_communications_satellite_now_in_geostationary_orbit/?pid=1575&LangType=2057. 27 July 2011.
  12. Web site: Indonesian satellite reaches preset orbit despite skewed launch_English_Xinhua. 2009-09-13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090922192957/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/12/content_12041666.htm. 22 September 2009.
  13. News: de Selding . Peter B. . 7 September 2009 . Palapa-D to be Salvaged After Being Launched into Wrong Orbit . live . https://archive.today/20240124150932/https://spacenews.com/palapa-d-be-salvaged-after-being-launched-wrong-orbit/ . 24 January 2024 . 11 September 2009 . .
  14. Pontieux . Florence . Bielecki . Sandrine . 16 November 2009 . Thales Alenia Space statement concerning In Orbit Acceptance Review of the Palapa-D satellite . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727113600/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/Markets/Space/2009/Thales_Alenia_Space_statement_concerning_In_Orbit_Acceptance_Review_of_the_Palapa-D_satellite/?pid=1575&LangType=2057 . 27 July 2011 . . Cannes .
  15. News: Rainbow . Jason . 28 October 2021 . Indonesia orders Thales Alenia Space satellite to replace lost Nusantara-2 . live . https://archive.today/20240124150733/https://spacenews.com/indonesia-orders-thales-alenia-space-satellite-to-replace-lost-nusantara-2/ . 24 January 2024 . 29 October 2021 . . SpaceNews .