SpaceX Launches Indonesian Satellite Via Falcon 9 Rocket from Cape Canaveral

The launch of its most recent communications satellite atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Indonesia hopes to expand broadband internet availability throughout the nation. Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:11 p.m. EST (2011 UTC), the Telkomsat HTS 113BT satellite, also known as Merah Putih 2, was launched.

The windy conditions did not prevent the Falcon 9 rocket from taking off at the beginning of its two-hour launch window.

This mission was made possible by the 17th flight of the Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1067. Crew-3, Crew-4, and two Cargo Dragon spacecraft missions to the International Space Station were among its prior launches. In June 2023, it also launched another Indonesian communications satellite, PSN Satria.

After taking off, B1067 touched down on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions” approximately 8.5 minutes later. This was JRTI’s first excursion since December, when B1058 capsized on the way back to Port Canaveral, Florida. With Tuesday’s mission, the 276th booster landing overall and the 72nd landing on JRTI were accomplished. Moreover, this was SpaceX’s sixteenth launch of 2024.

After the Falcon 9 second stage was launched, the Merah Putih 2 satellite was successfully launched after over thirty-four minutes of flight.

Increasing access to the internet

Built by Thales Alenia Space using its Spacebus 4000B2 platform, the satellite is set to launch on Tuesday. The Merah Putih 2 satellite, according to the company, “will provide more than 32 Gbps capacity over Indonesia.”

It has a mass of approximately four metric tons and will function for fifteen years at 113° East in orbit. The work was valued at 3.8 trillion INR ($242.8 million), according to the publication Telecom Review.

Being able to assist customer in developing their business after Telkom 3S is incredibly satisfying. Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, stated in a 2021 statement that HTS 113BT is the company’s fourth telecom program to cater to Indonesian satellite operators, demonstrating its ability to meet customers’ needs by providing a broad range of telecom satellite products.

The second satellite that SpaceX will launch on behalf of Telkomsat is called Merah Putih 2, which means “red and white” in Indonesian. First, on August 7, 2018, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Merah Putih, formerly known as Telkom-4, lifted off from the Cape.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 booster made its first preflight history on that mission as well.

After liftoff, Merah Putih 2 will be launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, which should take about 33 minutes.