Palapa-C2
| Industry | Satellite communications |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Indonesia |
| Products | Communications satellites |
Palapa-C2 was an Indonesian communications satellite deployed on 16 May 1996. Constructed by the Hughes Space and Communications Company (currently known as Boeing Satellite Development Center) for PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (SATELINDO), it was based on the HS-601 satellite platform. Featuring 30 C-band and 4 Ku-band transponders, it functioned in a geosynchronous orbit positioned at 113° East longitude. Palapa-C2 surpassed its expected operational duration of 15 years, remaining active for over two decades—the longest service period among Indonesian communications satellites.
Satellite description
In April 1993, SATELINDO awarded Hughes the contract to manufacture Palapa-C2 along with its identical counterpart, Palapa-C1. The assembly took place in El Segundo, California, where Hughes also set up the primary control center near Jakarta. The satellite employed an R-4D-11-300 liquid apogee engine to achieve its geostationary orbit.
Between 1998 and 2009, Palapa-C2 facilitated digital broadcast transmissions for leading Indonesian television channels such as RCTI, ANTV, Indosiar, and TPI utilizing MPEG-2 compression technology. These broadcast services later transitioned to Palapa D and subsequently to Telkom-4 in 2020.
Starting in 2000, transponder 4080 H on Palapa-C2 supported Indosat TV Link transmissions for various broadcasters including MetroTV (until 2023) and Global TV (until 2010).
Launch
The launch of Palapa-C2 occurred on 16 May 1996 at 01:56:29 UTC from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in Kourou, French Guiana. It was carried into orbit aboard an Ariane 44L H10-3 rocket alongside the Amos-1 satellite. The mission was insured with coverage exceeding US$200 million.
PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara
Ownership of six transponders aboard Palapa-C2 belonged to PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara.
Palapa-E
In May 2013, PT Indosat Tbk engaged Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman) to develop and launch Palapa-E as a successor to Palapa-C2. The satellite was designed using Orbital's GEOStar-2 bus. However, following the loss of operating rights to the orbital slot at 150.5° East—transferred to state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)—Indosat terminated the agreement.