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To: Ok2Launch who wrote (4929)	12/1/1998 10:41:00 AM
From: Valueman	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 10852

Poor Hughes--that HS601 is not doing them any good these days. Can one of you satellite jockeys fill us in on the consequences of this anomaly? No batteries equal no power during an eclipse, but does that mean the sat powers back up when the sun returns, or is there a chance of it never firing back up? Pasifik Satelit Nusantara Announces Satellite Anomaly JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- P.T. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (Nasdaq: PSNRY - news; PSN), Indonesia's first private satellite company, today announced an anomaly occurred on their Palapa-C satellite, jointly owned with P.T. Satelindo of Indonesia. The Palapa-C, located at orbital position 50.5 degrees E, is an HS 601 platform constructed by Hughes Electronics (NYSE: GMH - news). Initial indications are that an electrical power anomaly affected operation of the spacecraft. While the satellite responded as expected in accordance with intended design functions and existing contingency procedures returned it to normal operations, the ability to recharge batteries was apparently lost. In Hughes' opinion, this anomaly is unlike spacecraft control processor or battery problems reported on other HS 601 satellites. As testing and evaluation continues, the company's preliminary technical assessment centers on Battery Charge Controller B (BCC-B) which appears to be no longer functioning as designed. Due to the earlier loss of BCC-A, the primary battery charge controller during transfer orbit maneuvers, battery charging has been dependent on BCC-B. All battery charging, therefore, is now inhibited. Batteries are the exclusive source of power during the biannual eclipse periods, when batteries must power satellite electrical units and critical thermal elements. Although Hughes is not contesting this analysis, the satellite manufacturer proposes to undertake certain tests in an attempt to recover some of the charging capacity. In Hughes' opinion, these tests represent an extremely low risk of further damage to the spacecraft. Mr. Adi R. Adiwoso, CEO and President Director of PSN, commented, ''The inability to recharge the batteries of Palapa-C will result in a foreseeable transmission interruption during the eclipses experienced during the months of March and September.'' In order to maintain continuity of services to its customers, the company plans to immediately transfer all Palapa-C customers, including its Xpress Connection™ and Private Line subscribers, to the currently unassigned transponders on its other Palapa-C satellite, another Hughes built HS 601 satellite located at 113 degrees East. P.T. PSN's initial evaluation could however change, as more information becomes available. This release contains forward looking statements regarding continuity of services for the Xpress Connection™ and Private Line Projects. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including very preliminary assessment of power failure aboard the Palapa-C satellite. P.T. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) is the first private satellite communications company in Indonesia and, with US$285 million in assets, is also one of the leading satellite companies in the Asia Pacific. Based in Jakarta, PSN is focused on becoming a fully integrated provider of satellite-based telecommunications products and services in Asia, including the wholesale leasing of satellite capacity and four emerging new services: -- Xpress Connection™, a low-cost, VSAT-based rural telephone service with approximately 2,000 installed terminals in Indonesia; -- Private Line, a newly introduced WAN-based extension of Xpress Connection targeted at the corporate market; -- Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS), a satellite-based, handheld digital mobile telecommunications system under development which will provide both voice and data services; and -- Multi-Media Asia (M2A), being developed as Asia's first satellite-based multimedia digital telecommunications system, supporting two-way voice and data services, Internet access, fax and DTH television services. SOURCE: Pasifik Satelit Nusantara