Tim Furniss/LONDON
Boeing's Delta IV booster has found its first commercial payload. Indonesia's PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara company has decided to use the Medium Plus 5.4 version to carry its M2A communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit in 2003.
The Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 satellite will provide high-speed data transmissions to Asia. Originally the launch was set for 1999, but the plans were delayed by the Asia Pacific financial crisis.
The Delta IV will make its first flight in early 2002. Boeing says it will announce the inaugural launch customer later this month. The first contracted payload is a US Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System satellite. This is due to fly on a similar version of the launcher in May 2002, on the first mission under the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle programme. Boeing has 21 potential launch commitments from the USAF.
Meanwhile, the former Indonesian Palapa B2R communications satellite has been re-located to 42.5íE in geostationary orbit and renamed NewSat 1.
The 24 C-band spin-stabilised Hughes HS-376 spacecraft will be operated by NewSat USA, and will provide internet, voice, data and video service coverage to an area centred over India. NewSat plans to add the former Palapa B2R to its satellite fleet.
Palapa B2R was launched as Palapa B2 from the Space Shuttle in February 1984, but was stranded in low Earth orbit by an upper stage failure. The satellite, together with another stranded satellite Westar, was retrieved by space walking astronauts during a Shuttle mission in 1984. Palapa B2 was refurbished, renamed B2R and launched again on a Delta booster in April 1990 before being re-sold to Indonesia.
Source: Flight International
