Nusantara Lima Satellite Launched No Later Than Early September

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Space Association (Ariksa) Adi Rahman Adiwoso revealed the progress of the Nusantara Lima Satellite (SNL) program. This satellite will be launched in the near future from the US.

Adi said that all preparations had been completed. In fact, the Nusantara Lima satellite has been stationed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This satellite will certainly launch in less than a month.

"We are ready, the satellite is already in Cape Canaveral. (currently the satellite) is in the processing stage. We are waiting for the launch slot within 2-3 weeks. Maybe next week I should be there," Adi told the media crew on Thursday, August 21.

Based on this time duration, SNL is expected to take off between the end of August and early September. According to the latest data received by the Pacific Satellite Nusantara (PSN), there are still five launches that need to be carried out by its launch service provider.

SNL will be launched by SpaceX, Elon Musk's space company. The company will use a Falcon 9 rocket, a rocket SpaceX often uses to launch Starlink into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Adi did not rule out the possibility of a slow launch. If faced with some challenges, the SNL flight schedule may be delayed. The main factor that might underlie SNL's slow launch is the defense satellite agreement.

"Because (using) American rockets, in the agreement there are (important points regarding) American satellites such as defense that need to take precedence," Adi explained. Apart from the first American program, Adi also emphasized weather factors and technical problems.

In the success of the SNL launch, it is important to pay attention to the weather conditions of space. If the weather conditions are not good, the launch of SNL may be 'delayed in a day or two'.

"If there is a technical problem, we also don't want to go (to launch SNL) because the risk is very high. Usually, that's the case, but so far SpaceX has launched every three days," said Adi.

The Ariksa leadership also revealed the funds they have disbursed for the satellite launch mission this time. Adi said that the cost was, "around IDR 7 trillion to IDR 7.5 trillion, depending on the exchange rate."