Seeing other countries competing in the field of space, may have made you wonder. Actually, is Indonesia also actively involved in space missions?
The answer, of course, is yes! This was explained by Prof. Dr. Thomas Djamaluddin, MSc, an astrophysics-astronomy scientist who had served as Head of the National Aeronautics and Space Institute (LAPAN) -- before LAPAN was finally merged into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
"The space program is a very expensive program, high cost, then the risk is expensive, high risk and of course high technology, high tech," said Djamal in Eureka! First edition with the theme 'Indonesia Hunts for Exoplanets and Aliens', Monday (24/1/2022).
"Indonesia as a developing country certainly has limitations," he continued.
The main thing is the problem of budget and technology constraints. Therefore, Indonesia started the space program in stages.
Indonesia chose to start with astronomical observations which had been carried out since 1923 with the Boscha Observatory. Then proceed to the use of space technology which is still limited to Earth observation, using international satellite imagery between the 1970s and 1980s.
In the early 2000s, Indonesia began to build its own satellite by sending dozens of engineers from LAPAN to study in Germany. First the satellites made were still micro, measuring about 50 kg, then Indonesia was able to make another new satellite itself in 2012 and launched in 2015 with a larger weight, around 70 kg.
"2016, it's even bigger 115 kg, and now we are preparing another 4th satellite, maybe it will weigh between 120 or 150 kg, and at this stage we are still making our own satellite. We hope to develop the launch technology, and also be able to launch space probes. from Indonesia itself by building a spaceport," he said hopefully.
"Of course with better sources of funds and resources, increasing human resources, we will participate in international missions to participate in space missions," continued Djamal.
This also turns out to be in line with Indonesia's mission in the Master Plan for Space. This plan has an important mission: before 100 years of Indonesia's independence, before 2045, we will be able to make our own satellites -- and this has already been done.
Next is to make the launch vehicle (rocket) which is already in the development stage. The good news is that the achievement has succeeded in penetrating tens of km (target 200-300 km). Lastly, of course it has its own spaceport.
"With Indonesia's position at the equator, it is the best location to be able to launch satellites more efficiently. So that before 100 years of Indonesia's independence, Indonesia is expected to be able to make its own satellites, launch with homemade vehicles and from space airports from Indonesian territory," he said.