Palapa B2 was launched from STS-41-B on 3 February 1984, to be put into service afterward, but the perigee kick motor (also known as the Payload Assist Module, or PAM) on the satellite failed during its approach to geosynchronous orbit, placing it at an improper and inoperable low Earth orbit. It was retrieved on 16 November 1984, by the STS-51-A mission of NASA's Space Shuttle, where it was brought back to earth. The Space Shuttle mission to retrieve Palapa B2 as well as the Westar 6 satellite which shared the launch payload with Palapa B2, was partially funded by the insurance companies led by Lloyd's of London who insured the launch of those two satellites.