As of September 10, 2023, at 5:55 p.m. EDT, SpaceX has officially scrubbed the launch of the Nusantara Lima (N5) satellite, marking the third consecutive day of delays. The mission, which was initially slated for liftoff, faced setbacks due to potential technical issues and adverse weather conditions. The next target for the launch is now set for September 11, 2023.
The Nusantara Lima satellite is a communications satellite developed by the Indonesian company Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN). Once launched, it will be placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately 27 minutes after liftoff. The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX is aiming for a liftoff time of 7:59 p.m. EDT (2359 UTC) on September 11. The Falcon 9 rocket will travel due east upon its departure from Florida's Space Coast. For those interested in following the launch, Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage starting about an hour before the scheduled liftoff.
On September 10, the 45th Weather Squadron estimated a 30 percent chance of favorable weather at the launch window's opening, which is expected to improve to 45 percent towards the end of the launch window. Meteorologists have indicated that the primary obstacle to a successful launch is the threat of thunderstorms, with anticipated wind gusts ranging from 35 to 45 mph near stronger storms. Furthermore, the weather officers noted that "deep atmospheric moisture will remain across Florida through mid-week," contributing to continued instability and elevated chances of showers and storms.
The N5 satellite will be launched using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, equipped with a veteran first-stage booster designated as B1078. This particular booster is set to make its 23rd flight, having previously supported a diverse range of missions, including NASA’s Crew-6, USSF-124, and ASTSpaceMobile’s BlueBird 1-5 satellites. After launching the rocket into the lower atmosphere, the B1078 booster will attempt to land on the drone ship named A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. If successful, this landing would mark the 124th recovery for that vessel and the 503rd booster landing overall for SpaceX.
The Nusantara Lima satellite, announced back in 2022, was designed to enhance connectivity for residents of Indonesia and surrounding regions by augmenting the services provided by the Satria-1 satellite. Initially scheduled for launch in 2023 alongside Satria-1, the N5 satellite has experienced delays. Spaceflight Now has reached out to PSN for comments regarding these delays but has yet to receive a response.
Built on the Boeing-designed 702MP VHTS (Very High Throughput Satellite) bus, the N5 satellite boasts a remarkable capacity of 160 Gbps through its 101 Ka-band spot beams. It is engineered for a lifespan exceeding 15 years and is expected to reach its operational orbit at 113 degrees East over the Equator by mid-January 2024, with service anticipated to commence in early 2026.
As anticipation builds, the successful launch of the Nusantara Lima satellite is crucial for enhancing communications infrastructure in Indonesia, paving the way for improved connectivity in the region.
