Powerful Indonesian communications satellite launched by SpaceX

SpaceX successfully launched a cutting-edge Indonesian communications satellite over the weekend. This satellite is a key component of a $550 million initiative to provide high-speed internet access to schools, medical centers, and various public and government facilities throughout Indonesia.

The launch took place at 6:21 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Riding on a Falcon 9 rocket, equipped with a first stage that has already made 12 flights, the satellite soared into the sky and disappeared from view, travelling over the Atlantic Ocean.

Once the first stage was jettisoned and landed precisely on an offshore droneship, the second stage’s engine propelled the satellite towards its planned elliptical deploy orbit. Approximately 37 minutes after launch, the 10,100-pound SATRIA satellite was released to fly independently.

Developed by Thales Alenia Space, the satellite will utilize ion thrusters on board to establish a circular orbit 22,300 miles above the equator, specifically at 126 degrees east longitude.

Satellites at this geosynchronous altitude complete one orbit every 24 hours, remaining stationary from Earth’s perspective. This positioning allows for the use of fixed ground antennas, greatly simplifying data transmission infrastructure.

SATRIA is a joint endeavor between the Indonesian government and a consortium led by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), a satellite operator. The project aims to connect approximately 94,000 schools, nearly 50,000 village offices, various government facilities, and numerous hospitals and medical establishments across Indonesia.

SATRIA has a capacity of 150 gigabytes per second, enabling it to serve as a vital link between various educational, governmental, and medical facilities spread across Indonesia’s numerous islands. Prior to this launch, Indonesia relied on five domestic communications satellites and four foreign relay stations, collectively providing only 50 gigabytes of telecommunications bandwidth.

Adi Rahman Adiwoso, CEO of PSN, expressed confidence that SATRIA will play a significant role in bridging the digital divide within Indonesia. The satellite is expected to have a operational lifespan of at least 15 years.

The Indonesian launch represents SpaceX’s 41st Falcon-related mission of the year, the fifth in the current month, and the 245th overall launch, including Falcon 1 rockets, Falcon Heavies, and the Super Heavy-Starship.

William Harwood

Bill Harwood has been reporting on the U.S. space program since 1984. He served as the Cape Canaveral bureau chief for United Press International and currently works as a consultant for CBS News. Throughout his career, Harwood covered 129 space shuttle missions, every interplanetary flight since Voyager 2’s Neptune flyby, as well as numerous commercial and military launches. Harwood is based at the Kennedy Space Center and is an avid amateur astronomer. He is also a co-author of “Comm Check: The Final Flight of Shuttle Columbia.”