EDITOR'S NOTE: The satellite was lost in a launch failure.

Palapa N1 was an Indonesian telecommunications satellite from Indosat Ooredoo and was supposed to be a replacement satellite for Palapa-D.

Palapa-D was launched by a Chinese Long March 3B (Chang Zheng 3B) rocket on August 31st, 2007 with a 15 year life expectancy.

However, a partial-launch failure placed the Palapa-D in the incorrect orbit, forcing the satellite to burn a significant amount of fuel to get to its intended orbit.

Because of this unplanned fuel expenditure, Palapa-D saw its life cut to just 10 years.

Palapa N1 was to serve as the replacement for a Palapa-D, and was to be placed at the 113° East longitude location above Indonesia.

The satellite was supposed to operate in a near circular 35,786 km orbit almost exactly over the equator.

This is the Chang Zheng 3B/E rocket.

It is an upgraded version of the retired Chang Zheng 3 and sports a longer first stage and longer boosters that allow it to carry heavier satellites into space.

Despite its success and capability, it uses highly toxic propellants for its first two stages and boosters: hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. Exposure to these fuels before launch and as the boosters and stages fall back to Earth near (and sometimes on) populated and un-evacuated villages can lead to severe health issues.

The rocket is being replaced with newer Chang Zheng rockets that use more standard, non-toxic fuels like liquid hydrogen, liquid methane, and liquid oxygen.

In recent years, the LM-3B/E launch vehicle is developed to increase the GTO capacity up to 5,500kg. LM-3B/E has nearly the same configurations with LM-3B except its enlarged core stage and boosters.

Photo credit: CASC

The space center was built in the early 1980s and takes its name from the closest city, Xichang in Sichuan Province, the People's Republic of China.

It is used to launch international scientific and commercial missions as well as satellites for the military.

The site is landlocked, so launches have to take place over land and populated areas.

This creates a potential danger to people living in the path of falling rocket stages and boosters that are discarded during launch.

Photo credit: CGTN