Chinese Launch of Indonesian Satellite Fails

The Nusantara Dua satellite. Photo: PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) via The Jakarta Post

Chinese state media Xinhua.net reported Thursday that a Long March-3B rocket mission carrying Indonesian communications satellite Palapa-N1/Nusantara Dua failed. 

According to Xinhua, abnormal conditions in the third stage caused the failure, and debris from the third stage rocket and satellite fell. An investigation is underway. The rocket took off at 7:46 p.m. in Beijing from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China’s southwestern Sichuan Province.

According to the Jakarta Post, Nusantara Dua satellite, was built by China Great Wall Industry Corporation and intended to replace the Palapa-D satellite and provide broadband internet access and broadcasting. The satellite would have served Indonesian satellite communication provider PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), in cooperation with telecommunication service provider PT Indosat Ooredoo and telecommunication company, PT Pintar Nusantara Sejahtera (PNS).