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What’s next for the Indonesian space program?
The establishment of National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) under the direct supervision of the President has created an unprecedented chance to bring the space agenda onto the highest table of Indonesian officials.
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Trial and error: A miniature test rocket takes off as the National Aeronautics and Space Institute (LAPAN) tests equipment on barren scrubland in Lumajang, East Java on Nov. 19, 2019. LAPAN has been merged into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). (AFP/Juni Kriswanto)
T
he internationally recognized Indonesian space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Institute (LAPAN), no longer exists. As of September last year, it had been amalgamated into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
BRIN is still in a difficult yet necessary integration process to accumulate all national agenda items and resources for research and development. The aerospace and nuclear sectors are not excluded, even though each has its own legal basis to be taken care of by independent entities.
On one hand, it can be seen as a streamlining move to enhance overall Indonesian technological prowess, but on the other hand, it can also be interpreted as a major drawback for Indonesian space development.
LAPAN was one of the earliest space agencies on Earth. It was established by founding president Sukarno in 1963 with a spirit to adapt to the dawn of the space age era and stand equal with other nations. His conviction about the “outer space revolution” at the time was visionary for a nation that was still building stability.
Through LAPAN, Indonesia turned into one of leading space research and development centers in the Asia-Pacific. Now, while other countries of this region start creating their long-overdue space agencies, Indonesia is choosing to reset it.
A strong basis for challenging the integration of LAPAN into BRIN is Law No. 21/2013 on space activities, which mandates a government body to conduct government affairs in aerospace research, development and utilization, as well as space activities. To implement the mandate, Presidential Regulation No. 45/2017 on the master plan for space activities was issued with a vision to operate Indonesian-built telecommunications, observation and navigation satellites and launch an indigenous micro-satellite launch vehicle into low-Earth orbit by 2040.
LAPAN was expected to turn Indonesia into a spacefaring nation, joining the elite “space club” by 2045.
