The first nano-satellite made in Indonesia, Surya Satellite-1 (SS-1), has successfully launched on schedule in 2022. Earlier this year, the satellite made by the nation's children was officially released from the International Space Station (ISS).
On Friday (6/1/2023), SS-1 was successfully released from the ISS into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) JSSOD deployer module.
The release of SS-1 was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and JAXA, so the general public also witnessed the seconds of SS-1's launch from the ISS to LEO.
To note, the release of SS-1 into orbit allows the satellite to operate at an altitude of 400-420 km above the Earth's surface, with an inclination angle of 51.7 degrees.
BRIN said the launch of the first nano-satellite in Indonesia was the starting point which showed that young scientists and the nation's children had succeeded in making a big history in achieving the national space industry.
This is because the launching of nano satellites is relatively new in Indonesia, because the majority of which are currently operating and using micro satellites. SS-1 is a nano satellite or cubesat measuring 10 x 10 x 11.35 cm and weighing 1 to 1.3 kg, smaller than a micro satellite or tubesat which usually weighs 50-70 kg.
Flashback of Surya Satellite-1
The flight of SS-1 in November 2022 to the ISS is good news for the Indonesian people, because the launch was delayed for several days due to unfavorable weather factors.
The SS-1 mission is an Automatic Packet Reporting System which functions as a communication medium via satellite in short text form. This technology can be developed for disaster mitigation, remote monitoring, and emergency communications.
SS-1 was developed by a group of students from Surya University since 2016 with the support and supervision of experts from the BRIN Satellite Technology Research Center.
This project also received support from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo), the Indonesian Radio Amateur Organization, PT Pudak Scientific, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and other stakeholders.