Telkom-4

Telkom-4
Telkom-4 Merah Putih satellite
NamesMerah Putih
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorPT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk
COSPAR ID2018-064A [1]
SATCAT no.43587
Websitehttps://telkomsat.co.id/id/
Mission duration16 years (planned)
6 years, 4 months and 12 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMerah Putih
Spacecraft typeSSL 1300
BusLS-1300
ManufacturerSpace Systems/Loral
Launch mass5,800 kg (12,800 lb) [2]
Dry mass2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date7 August 2018, 05:18 UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5, B1046.2
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Entered serviceOctober 2018
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[3]
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude108° East
Transponders
Band60 C-Band
Coverage areaIndonesia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, India

Telkom 4, also known as Merah Putih, is an Indonesian geostationary communication satellite built by Space Systems/Loral that is located at an orbital position of 108° East and is operated by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. The satellite is based on the SSL 1300 satellite bus and has a life expectancy of 16 years. It was launched on 7 August 2018, at 05:18 UTC or 12:18 Jakarta Time, using the SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 launcher from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States.[4][5]

Satellite description

This satellite carries 60 active transponders consisting of 24 C-Band transponders and 12 Extended C-Band transponders which will serve the Southeast Asia region, including Indonesia, as well as 24 C-Band transponders which will reach the South Asia region. The satellite relies on the SSL 1300 satellite bus with a design life of 16 years with up to 21 years of fuel remaining. The development of the Merah Putih Satellite involves two U.S. companies, namely SSL as a satellite manufacturer and SpaceX as a launch service provider. The total mass of the satellite is 5,800 kilograms (12,800 lb). Telkom-4 is devoted to serving high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts, GSM and Internet services.

Launch

Telkom-4 was launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 first stage B1046.2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida, United States on 7 August 2018, at 01:18 UTC. The launch was the first time SpaceX reused one of the Block 5 variant of the Falcon 9 rocket boosters.[6] After successfully separating from the second stage, the first stage landed on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You.

Project cost

The launch of the Telkom-4 (Merah Putih) satellite saves around 25% of the cost of launching the previous satellite, the Telkom-3S satellite, which was launched on 15 February 2017, which cost US$215 million. Meanwhile, the Merah Putih satellite only costs US$165 million and includes insurance costs of US$10 million.[7]

Service users

Due to the inadequacy of the Palapa-D satellite to operate until July 2020, while the replacement satellite, Nusantara Dua (Palapa N1),[8] failed to reach orbit, many TV and radio channels migrated from Palapa-D to Telkom-4.[9] Below is a list of frequency of channels that have migrated as of July 2020:[10]

References

  1. ^ "Telkom 4 2018-064A". Nasa. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Telkom 4 (Merah Putih)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Telkom-4". N2YO.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ "LAPORAN DARI FLORIDA AS: Satelit Merah Putih Sukses Mengangkasa". industri.bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. ^ Luciana, Anisa (6 August 2018). "Besok, Satelit Merah Putih Telkom Diluncurkan dari Florida AS". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. ^ Utomo, Happy Ferdian Syah. "Ini Kata Elon Musk soal Peluncuran Satelit Merah Putih". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Miami: Liputan6.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. ^ Luciana, Anisa (6 August 2018). "Besok, Satelit Merah Putih Telkom Diluncurkan dari Florida AS". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Roket China Gagal Bawa Satelit Palapa N1 Hancur Berkeping" (in Indonesian). CNBC Indonesia. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Nusantara dua Gagal Capai Orbit Palapa-D masih Beroperasi" (in Indonesian). Detik. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Telkom-4 at 108° E". Lyngsat. Retrieved 4 August 2020.