Edging ever closer to the launch date of May 16 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Launch Pad 39, the IndoStar II/ ProtoStar II communications satellite, manufactured by the Boeing Company is scheduled to lift off on a Proton M/Breeze M at 06:57 Baikonur; May 16: 00:57 GMT; May 15: 20:57 EDT. The launch customer is ProtoStar Ltd. of Bermuda in Partnership with PT MNC Indovision of Indonesia.  

Early this week, after standalone tests finished, the IndoStar II/ProtoStar II spacecraft (SC) was mounted and clamped onto the payload adapter (PLA). The SC and the PLA stack were then mated to the Breeze M the next day, forming the orbital unit (OU). Testing and battery charging completed during the night, tilting of the OU subsequently followed.

After encapsulation was completed earlier this week mission teams signed the payload fairing in accordance with tradition. Shortly, the ascent unit will be transferred to Hall 111 for integration with the Proton M launcher.

The IndoStar II/ProtoStar II satellite is the second satellite in ProtoStar’s evolving constellation. The satellite will replace the existing Chakarawarta 1 and will bring high-power S-band and Ku-band capacity over Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Taiwan. The satellite’s S-band transponders will be supporting the Direct-to-Home (DTH) television services of Indovision, Indonesia’s largest DTH operator. The satellite will also be providing large block capacity to support new high definition television services as well as other multi-media, broadband services across the region.

The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the IndoStar II/ProtoStar II satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the ascent unit (Breeze M upper stage and the IndoStar II/ProtoStar II satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the ascent unit first to an elliptical parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the IndoStar II/ProtoStar II satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 15 minutes after liftoff. 

Live webcast at this site. will begin approximately 20 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website. Coordinates for satellite broadcast of the launch will be posted when they are confirmed.