35812 - PALAPA D

Palapa D, an Indonesian communications satellite, was launched by a Chinese Long March 3B rocket from Xichang on 31 August 2009 at 09:28 UT. A problem with the third stage booster caused the satellite to be placed in a lower than expected orbit. The third stage was to have put the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit but instead left Palapa D in an orbit of roughly 220 x 21,150 km with a 22.3 degree inclination.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2009-08-31
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3B
Launch Site: Xichang, Peoples Republic of China