# Palapa D

> Indonesian geostationary communications satellite; launch vehicle failure caused reduced lifespan

**Wikidata**: [Q36631](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36631)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palapa-D)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/palapa-d

## Summary
Palapa D is an Indonesian geostationary communications satellite launched in 2009. A failure during its launch with the Long March 3B rocket resulted in it being placed into a lower-than-intended orbit, which significantly reduced its operational lifespan. Despite this setback, the satellite was successfully maneuvered into geostationary orbit and entered service later that year.

## Key Facts
- **Country**: Indonesia  
- **Launch Date**: August 31, 2009  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Long March 3B (Chinese orbital carrier rocket)  
- **Manufacturer**: Thales Alenia Space  
- **Mass at Launch**: 4,100 kilograms  
- **Orbital Class**: Geostationary satellite  
- **Operator**: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison  
- **Service Entry**: November 2009  
- **Decommissioning Date**: Approximately August 31, 2020  
- **Launch Site**: Xichang Satellite Launch Center  

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to Palapa D after launch?
A: After launch on August 31, 2009, Palapa D failed to reach its intended geostationary transfer orbit due to a malfunction of the Long March 3B rocket. Engineers were able to salvage the mission by using the satellite's onboard propulsion system to raise it into the correct orbit.

### Q: How long was Palapa D operational?
A: Palapa D became operational in November 2009 and remained in service until approximately August 31, 2020—about 11 years, shorter than originally planned due to fuel consumption required for orbital correction.

### Q: Who built Palapa D?
A: Palapa D was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, utilizing their Spacebus-4000B3 platform. The spacecraft featured two solar arrays and S400 thrusters for station keeping.

## Why It Matters
Palapa D played a critical role in expanding telecommunications infrastructure across Indonesia, one of the world’s largest archipelagic nations. Its deployment improved connectivity between remote islands and supported television broadcasting, internet services, and telephony through Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison. Although hampered by a launch anomaly that shortened its life expectancy, the successful recovery effort demonstrated resilience in space operations and underscored the importance of contingency planning in satellite missions.

## Notable For
- One of Indonesia’s key commercial communication satellites in the early 2010s  
- Successfully recovered from a partial launch failure via onboard propulsion maneuvers  
- Operated under a public-private partnership involving Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison  
- Built on the reliable Spacebus-4000B3 bus by Thales Alenia Space  

## Body
### Mission Overview
Palapa D was developed as part of Indonesia’s national satellite program aimed at enhancing domestic telecommunications coverage. It followed the earlier Palapa C2 satellite and served as a vital link in connecting geographically dispersed regions within the country.

### Technical Specifications
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Spacebus-4000B3 (Thales Alenia Space)
- **Power System**: Two spacecraft solar arrays
- **Propulsion**: S400 apogee motor
- **Launch Mass**: 4,100 kg (launch weight)
- **Orbit Type**: Geostationary orbit

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on August 31, 2009, at 09:28 UTC from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China aboard a Long March 3B/Y8 rocket. Due to a third-stage engine issue, the satellite was inserted into an elliptical orbit rather than the intended geostationary transfer orbit.

### Recovery Efforts
Despite the initial setback, engineers used Palapa D’s own propulsion systems over several weeks to circularize its orbit manually. This extended the satellite’s functional life but consumed additional fuel reserves, ultimately reducing its total operational duration.

### Operational Timeline
- **Launch**: August 31, 2009  
- **In-Orbit Acceptance Review & Service Entry**: November 2009  
- **End of Life / Decommissioning**: Around August 31, 2020  

### Legacy
Although Palapa D had a shorter-than-planned lifespan, it fulfilled its core mission of improving nationwide telecommunications access. Its salvage operation also highlighted international cooperation in space risk mitigation and set precedents for future Indonesian satellite programs.

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{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Palapa D",
  "description": "Indonesian geostationary communications satellite; launch vehicle failure caused reduced lifespan",
  "sameAs": [
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  "additionalType": "Communications Satellite"
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/palapa-d.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/Markets/Space/2009/Thales_Alenia_Space_statement_concerning_In_Orbit_Acceptance_Review_of_the_Palapa-D_satellite/?pid=1575&LangType=2057)
4. [Source](https://spacenews.com/palapa-d-be-salvaged-after-being-launched-wrong-orbit/)