Thales Alenia Space Launches Merah Putih-2 Satellite, Aiding Digital Expansion in Indonesia

Merah Putih-2 © Thales Alenia Space

(IN BRIEF) The Merah Putih-2 telecommunications satellite, formerly known as Telkomsat HTS 113BT, was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket. Designed to bolster connectivity infrastructure across Indonesia, the satellite aims to enhance digital businesses and bridge the digital divide in the archipelago by providing superior quality of service. Thales Alenia Space spearheaded the program as the prime contractor, overseeing design, construction, testing, and ground delivery. The satellite, with a capacity exceeding 32 gigabits per second, operates in the C-band/Ku-Band spectrum and will be positioned in orbit at 113° East for a projected lifespan of 15 years.

(PRESS RELEASE) CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, United States, 21-Feb-2024 — /EuropaWire/ —  Thales (EPA: HO), a French multinational company active in the aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets, announces that in a remarkable feat of technological achievement, the Merah Putih-2 telecommunications satellite, previously known as Telkomsat HTS 113BT, has been successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Crafted with the goal of fortifying connectivity infrastructure across the Indonesian archipelago, the Merah Putih-2 satellite is poised to elevate digital enterprises by delivering unparalleled quality of service to the Indonesian populace. Drawing upon the esteemed Spacebus 4000B2 platform developed by Thales Alenia Space, Merah Putih-2, aptly named after the vibrant colors of Indonesia’s flag, is primed to narrow the digital divide throughout the archipelago with its expansive capacity exceeding 32 gigabits per second.

The inception of this high-throughput satellite traces back to a pivotal contract inked in 2021 between Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia (Telkomsat), the foremost satellite service provider in Indonesia and a subsidiary of PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom), a state-owned digital telecommunications company.

Under the stewardship of Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor, the satellite’s journey from conceptualization to realization has been meticulously overseen, encompassing its design, construction, rigorous testing, and ground delivery. Furthermore, Thales Alenia Space has furnished the requisite ground control segment and conducted extensive theoretical and practical training sessions for Telkomsat engineers, spanning locales in both France and Indonesia, in preparation for seamless satellite operations. Notably, Thales Alenia Space assumes responsibility for the early orbital positioning phase (LEOP), in-orbit tests (IOT), and will provide steadfast in-orbit support throughout the satellite’s projected lifespan.

With a launch mass of 4 tons, the Merah Putih-2 satellite is poised to operate in the C-band/Ku-Band spectrum and will be stationed in orbit at 113° East, engineered for a design longevity of 15 years.

“It is a source of pride to witness the successful launch of Merah Putih-2, a mission that will provide better quality of telecommunications services in Indonesia.” said Marc-Henri Serre, Thales Alenia Space Executive Vice President, Telecommunications. “This program was developed through our productive collaboration with Indonesian stakeholders, following the construction of Palapa-D, Telkom-3S, Telkom 3 payload, and SATRIA satellites, all of which are instrumental in bridging Indonesia’s digital divide.”

ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2022 and has around 8,500 employees in 17 sites in 10 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.

THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS

Sandrine Bielecki
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

Isis Baracco
Tel: +33(0) 6 86 16 26 77
isis.baracco@thalesaleniaspace.com

Cinzia Marcanio
Tel.: +39 (0)6 415 126 85
cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com

SOURCE: Thales