spacetoday.net: Chinese launch of Indonesian satellite fails

Chinese launch of Indonesian satellite fails

Posted: Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 10:30 AM ET (1430 GMT)
A Chinese rocket launch of an Indonesian satellite failed Thursday. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 7:46 am EDT (1146 GMT) carrying the Nusantara-2 communications satellite. The launch initially appeared to go as expected, but the rocket's third stage malfunctioned. The upper stage and its payload were seen reentering over Guam. Nusantara-2, built by China Great Wall Industry Corporation for an Indonesian joint venture between Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and Indosat Ooredoo, carried C- and Ku-band transponders to provide television and broadband services. The launch is the second failure of a Chinese rocket in as many months, and may delay future launches.