On the evening of September 11, 2025, SpaceX continued its busy launch schedule by successfully sending a satellite high above Earth for an Indonesian telecom company. The mission featured a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Nusantara Lima satellite, which lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:56 p.m. EDT (01:56 GMT on September 12). This launch came after a three-day delay due to inclement weather conditions.
The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage performed flawlessly, returning to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. It touched down on the SpaceX drone ship named A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Notably, this marked the 23rd launch and landing for this specific booster, designated as 1078, according to a SpaceX mission description. This achievement is just seven landings short of the company's reflight record, established during a recent launch of Starlink internet satellites.
Meanwhile, the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket continued its ascent, successfully deploying the Nusantara Lima satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 27.5 minutes after liftoff. Built by Boeing, the satellite will eventually settle into a geosynchronous orbit (GEO), positioned about 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above the Earth. At this altitude, the satellite's orbital speed matches that of the Earth's rotation, enabling it to maintain a stationary position over a fixed point on the planet. This characteristic makes GEO a sought-after orbit for communication, weather, and reconnaissance satellites.
The Nusantara Lima satellite is set to begin operations in 2026, following a series of necessary checkouts. It will be utilized by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), Indonesia's first satellite-based private telecom company, to provide services across the nation's vast archipelago of 17,000 islands, as well as in neighboring countries. Indonesia has a rich history of adopting satellite communications to connect its citizens, and according to Adi Rahman Adiwoso, CEO of PSN Group, Nusantara Lima continues that legacy. "This satellite will empower communities, schools, and businesses that have never had reliable access before," Adiwoso stated in a Boeing announcement last month.
With a capacity exceeding 160 Gbps, Nusantara Lima aims to enhance Indonesia's national telecommunications infrastructure to meet its growing needs. "Our partnership with Boeing and our global technology partners is about making sure no one is left behind as Indonesia grows," Adiwoso added.
Tonight's launch marked the 114th Falcon 9 mission of 2025. An impressive 70% of these flights have been focused on expanding the Starlink megaconstellation in low Earth orbit, which currently includes more than 8,300 operational satellites and continues to expand.
As SpaceX persists in its ambitious launch schedule, the successful deployment of the Nusantara Lima satellite exemplifies the company's ongoing commitment to enhancing global connectivity through advanced satellite technology.
