Arianespace Flight 118 has been rescheduled to August 12 following detection an electrical system anomaly during checkout of another Ariane 4 third stage cryogenic engine in Europe. Arianespace will change out a similar system on the Flight 118 vehicle as a precautionary measure.
Arianespace Flight 118 will boost Indonesia's Telkom 1 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. Primarily designed for direct TV broadcasting, telephony and multimedia services, Telkom 1 is the third Indonesian satellite to be launched by Arianespace, following Palapa C2 in May 1996 and Cakrawarta-1 in November 1997.
Telkom 1 will ensure satcom service continuity for Indonesia's leading operator, PT. Telekommunikasi. Indonesia was one of the first countries to set up a satellite system, establishing a space-based communications network in 1976 to tie together the 17,000 islands making up the Indonesian archipelago.
For its third launch of the year, Arianespace will use an Ariane 42P launcher, fitted with two solid-propellant strap-on boosters.
