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Indonesian Satellite to Be Launched

Indonesian Satellite to Be Launched
Credit...The New York Times Archives
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July 8, 1976, Page 55Buy Reprints
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The first communications satellite to be owned by a developing nation, a $12 million Indonesian craft called Palapa, is scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., tonight by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Indonesia is investing $180 million, including more than $130 million spent in the United States, in its domestic communications satellite system. The craft to be launched today and a twin scheduled for launching in the fall of 1977 are to link 40 earth stations in the Indonesian archipelago at points up to 3,000 miles apart.

Perumtel, the Indonesian telecommunications agency, expects to begin service via the Palapa satellite by Aug. 17, the 31st anniversary of Indonesian independence.

Others Expected to Follow

Today's launching is expected to be the first of many for developing countries. Many are establishing or considering satellite systems to set up nationwide electronic communications earlier, and at far lower cost, than would be possible with terrestrial wire, cable or microwave.

Algeria already has estab lished a network of 14 earth stations, linked through spare transmission devices aboard satellites of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization.

And Brazil, Zaire, Malaysia, the Philippines and Chile have already used Intelsat craft for domestic service or have applied to do so. India has been discussing the use of spare channels aboard one of the two European communications satellites, called Symphonie 1 and 2, which are stationed above the Atlantic.

Indonesian System Fourth

Indonesia is the fourth nation, after the Soviet Union, Canada and the United States, to establish its own domestic communications satellite system.

The Soviet system largely relies on low‐capacity craft called Molniya that circle the earth over the poles. The single Canadian system and three American ones use craft that are established at stations 22,300 miles above the Equator, where their motion is synchronized with that of a point on the earth's surface.

Canada's array of three Anik craft, similar in design to the Palapas of Indonesia and launched in 1972, 1973 and 1975, is considered the first full‐fledged domestic system.

Also similar in design are the two Westar satellites, launched in 1974 and owned and operated by Western Union.

Like the Palapas, the Aniks and Westars were manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft Company of El Segundo. Calif. Hughes also made the Intelsat 4 and 4‐A craft and the Cornstar domestic satellite that is expected to begin service between Hawaii and the mainland. United States in a few days.

The Indonesian contract with Hughes for the two Palapas was for $23.6 million.

Under another contract for $47.5 million, Hughes conconstructed the Indonesian system's master control station at Cibinong, outside the capital City of Jakarta, and nine other earth stations.

The International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation and the Aeronutronic Ford Corporation each built 15 earth stations under $30 million contracts. The fee paid to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the Delta’ launching rocket and launching services is expected to be $13 million, according to the agency.

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