China to launch communication satellite for Indonesia

China is preparing to launch a communication satellite, Palapa-N1, for Indonesia at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The satellite was developed under a contract signed between the China Great Wall Industry Corp. under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) and the Palapa Satelit Nusantara Sejahtera of Indonesia in May 2017.

Palapa-N1 was built on an enhanced Dongfanghong-4 communication satellite platform by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), and will be launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

The satellite will provide communication and broadcasting services to Indonesia and other countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The development team is making efforts to carry out the mission amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, a series of China's space projects are progressing well. For instance, a trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship has been tested at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. The experimental spaceship is expected to be launched with no crew in mid to late April on the maiden flight of the Long March-5B carrier rocket.