SpaceX Boosts Indonesian Comms Satellite on 16th 2021 Flight

Lilu Anderson
Photo: Finoracle.net

SpaceX Launches Indonesian Communications Satellite on Falcon 9 Rocket

SpaceX achieved another milestone on Tuesday as it successfully launched its 16th Falcon 9 rocket of the year. The rocket took off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying Indonesia’s Merah Putih 2 communications satellite. This is the second Telkomsat data relay station launched by SpaceX.

The Merah Putih 2 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space and operated by state-owned Telkomsat, is equipped with C-band and Ku-band transponders that can provide data rates of up to 32 gigabytes per second, covering the entire Indonesian region. The satellite has a design life of 15 years.

The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage, completing its 17th flight, successfully aided the rocket’s ascent into space before landing on an offshore barge just eight-and-a-half minutes after launch, showcasing SpaceX’s expertise in reusability.

With this launch, SpaceX has now completed 301 Falcon 9 missions since its debut in 2010 and has successfully recovered the first stage of the rocket 275 times. The company has ambitious plans for the year ahead and expects to launch more than 140 rockets, pending favorable hardware and weather conditions.

Looking ahead, SpaceX has two more Starlink flights lined up in the near term, which will contribute to the deployment of nearly 5,900 broadband data relay stations. Following these missions, the company is scheduled to launch the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule “Endeavour,” carrying three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station on March 1. This will mark the fifth flight of the Crew Dragon capsule.

The incoming crew, consisting of Commander Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, will replace the current ISS crew. The outgoing crew plans to return to Earth by March 8, making way for the launch of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in April, carrying both veterans and new crew members, as well as a NASA astronaut who arrived at the station in September last year.

Analyst comment

This news can be evaluated as positive. The successful launch of the Indonesian communications satellite on the Falcon 9 rocket showcases SpaceX’s expertise and reliability in the industry. With plans for more rocket launches and upcoming missions, SpaceX is poised for continued growth and success in the market.

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Lilu Anderson is a technology writer and analyst with over 12 years of experience in the tech industry. A graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science, Lilu specializes in emerging technologies, software development, and cybersecurity. Her work has been published in renowned tech publications such as Wired, TechCrunch, and Ars Technica. Lilu’s articles are known for their detailed research, clear articulation, and insightful analysis, making them valuable to readers seeking reliable and up-to-date information on technology trends. She actively stays abreast of the latest advancements and regularly participates in industry conferences and tech meetups. With a strong reputation for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, Lilu Anderson continues to deliver high-quality content that helps readers understand and navigate the fast-paced world of technology.