Article

On the evening of September 11, 2025, SpaceX executed yet another successful launch, deploying the Nusantara Lima satellite for an Indonesian telecommunications company from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff occurred at 9:56 PM EDT, following a three-day delay due to inclement weather conditions.

The Falcon 9 rocket performed flawlessly, with its first stage returning to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes post-launch, touching down on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This mission marked the 23rd launch for this particular booster, designated as 1078, bringing it just shy of SpaceX's reflight record set last month.

As the rocket’s upper stage ascended, it successfully deployed the Nusantara Lima satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit 27.5 minutes after liftoff. Built by Boeing, this satellite is set to occupy a geosynchronous orbit 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above Earth, allowing it to maintain a fixed position relative to the planet’s surface. This orbit is ideal for communications, weather monitoring, and reconnaissance applications.

Nusantara Lima is anticipated to begin operations in 2026, following a series of necessary checkouts. PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), Indonesia's first satellite-based private telecom company, plans to utilize the satellite to deliver services across Indonesia's 17,000 islands and neighboring regions. Adi Rahman Adiwoso, CEO of PSN Group, emphasized the satellite's role in enhancing connectivity for underserved communities, schools, and businesses, enabling reliable access where it was previously lacking.

With a capacity exceeding 160 gigabits per second, Nusantara Lima aims to bolster Indonesia's telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring that growth and advancement are inclusive across the nation. This launch was the 114th Falcon 9 mission in 2025, contributing to SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to expand its Starlink megaconstellation, which now consists of over 8,300 operational satellites in low Earth orbit. Additionally, SpaceX has conducted four test flights of its next-generation Starship megarocket this year, showcasing its commitment to advancing human space exploration.