National Institute of Aeronautics and Space
(Indonesian: Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa
Nasional/LAPAN) is the Indonesian government
space agency.
It was established on November 27, 1963, by
former Indonesian president Sukarno after
one year's existence of an informal space
agency organization.
LAPAN is responsible for long-term civilian
and military aerospace research.
For over two decades, it has managed satellites
and domain-developed small scientific-technology
satellites Lapan and telecommunication satellites
Palapa, which were built by Hughes (now Boeing
Satellite Systems) and launched from the US
on Delta rockets or from French Guiana using
Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rockets.
It has also developed sounding rockets and
has been trying to develop small orbital space
launchers.
The LAPAN A1 in 2007 and LAPAN A2 satellites
were launched by India in 2015.
== History ==
On May 31, 1962, Indonesia commenced aeronautics
exploration when the Aeronautics Committee
was established by the Indonesian prime minister,
Juanda, who was also the head of Indonesian
Aeronautics.
The secretary of Indonesian Aeronautics, RJ
Salatun, was also involved in the establishment.On
September 22, 1962, the Initial Scientific
and Military Rocket Project (known in Indonesia
as Proyek Roket Ilmiah dan Militer Awal or
"PRIMA") was formed as an affiliation of AURI
(Indonesian Air Force) and ITB (Bandung Institute
of Technology).
The outcome of the project was the launching
of two "Kartika"("star") series rockets and
their telemetric ordnances.
After two informal projects, which had no
national contribution, the National Institute
of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) was established
in 1963 by Presidential Decree 236.
== Programmes ==
For more than 20 years, LAPAN has done research
on rocket, remote sensing, satellites and
space sciences.
=== Satellites ===
==== Palapa A1 and A2 ====
The first program was the Palapa A1 (launched
August 7, 1976) and A2 (launched October 3,
1977).
The satellites were almost identical to Canada's
Anik and Western Union's Westars.
Although the satellites belonged to the government-owned
company Perumtel, the spacecraft were made
in the United States.
==== LAPAN satellites ====
The development of microsatellites has become
an opportunity for LAPAN in developing its
space program.
The development of such satellites requires
only limited budget and facilities, compared
to the development of big satellites.
Meanwhile, the capability to develop micro-satellite
will brings LAPAN to the readiness state to
implement a future space program that will
have measurable economic impact, and therefore
contribute to the country’s sustainable
development effort.
===== LAPAN-A1 =====
Lapan-A1 or Lapan-Tubsat is designed to transfer
of knowledge, skill and experience on micro-satellite
technology development from Technische Universität
Berlin, Germany to LAPAN.
The spacecraft is based the German DLR-Tubsat,
but includes a new star sensor and features
a new 45 × 45 × 27 cm structure.
The satellite payload is a COTS video camera
with 1000 mm lens, resulting in nadir resolution
of 5 m and nadir swath of 3.5 km from 650
km altitude.
In addition to that the satellite carries
another video camera with 50 mm lens, resulting
in 200 m resolution video image with swath
of 80 km at nadir.
The uplink and downlink for telemetry, tracking
and command (TTC) is done in UHF and downlink
for video is done in S-band analog.
The satellite was successfully launched to
SSO of 635 km as auxiliary payload in Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C7 from Sriharikota,
India on January 10, 2007.
LAPAN Tubsat performed technological experiments,
earth observation and attitude control experiments.
===== LAPAN-A2 =====
The mission for LAPAN-A2 or LAPAN-ORARI is
Earth observation using RGB camera, maritime
traffic monitoring using an automatic identification
system (AIS) which can know about name and
flag of the ship registered, ship type, physical
and tonnage of the ship, correct and current
route, departure and arrival port, and amateur
radio communication (text and voice; ORARI
is Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization).
The satellite will be launched as a secondary
payload of India's ASTROSAT mission into a
circular orbit of 650 km with an inclination
of 8 degrees.
The purpose of the project is to develop capability
to design, assembly, integration and test
(AIT) process of a micro-satellite in Indonesia.
The satellite was successfully launched on
28 September 2015 using India's ISRO Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and will monitor
Indonesia every 97 minutes or 14 times a day.
===== LAPAN-A3 =====
LAPAN-A3 or LAPAN-IPB will perform experimental
remote sensing mission.
In addition to that, the satellite will support
global AIS mission and amateur radio communication.
The satellite payload is a four-band push
broom multi-spectral imaging camera (Landsat
band: B, G, R, NIR), which will give resolution
of 18 m and coverage of 120 km from 650 km
altitude.
The satellite has been launched in June 2016.
=== International cooperation ===
In 2008 Indonesia signed an agreement with
the Ukrainian National Space Agency (NSAU)
that will allow access to rocket and satellite
technologies.
=== Spaceport development plan ===
==== Biak Spaceport plan (2006) ====
Since 2006 Indonesia and Russia have been
discussing the possibility of launching a
satellite from Biak island using Air Launch
technology.
LAPAN and Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA)
have worked on a government-to-government
agreement in space cooperation in order to
enable such activities in Indonesia.
It is planned that Antonov An-124 aircraft
will deliver a Polyot space launch vehicle
to the new Indonesian spaceport on Biak island
(West Papua province).
This spaceport is well suited to commercial
launches as it sits almost exactly on the
equator - any space vehicle launched at the
equator has a greater initial velocity imparted
to it, making higher velocity or heavier payloads
possible.
In the spaceport, the launch vehicle will
be fuelled and the satellites will be loaded
on it.
The Antonov An-124 carrying the launch vehicle
is to fly at 10 km altitude above the ocean
East of Biak island to jettison the launch
vehicle In 2012, discussions resumed.
The main stumbling block is Russian concerns
over compliance with the terms of the Missile
Technology Control Regime; Russia is a co-signatory,
Indonesia is not.
==== Enggano launchpad plan (2011) ====
In 2011, LAPAN planned to build a satellite
launchpad at Enggano Island, Bengkulu province,
located at the westernmost part of Indonesia
at the Indian Ocean coast.
There are three possible locations, two in
Kioyo Natural Park and one in Gunung Nanua
Bird Park.
The most strategic site for this launchpad
is inside Nanua Bird Park, a place called
Tanjung Laboko which is 20 meters above sea
level and far from residential areas.
The satellite launch pad requires area only
one hectare, but the safety zone requires
200 hectares.
The cost to be disbursed is Rp.40 trillion
(around $4.5 billion).
The location is also available for assembly
of the rockets and launch preparations for
satellites of up to 3.8 tonnes.
The plan has concerned from the Bengkulu Natural
Resources Conservation Agency because both
parks are habitat for a number of bird species
native to Enggano Island, which ended by rejetion
by Bengkulu Province government.
==== Morotai spaceport plan (2012) ====
After studying the surrounding environment
in three potential spaceport island sites
(Enggano-Bengkulu, Morotai-North Maluku, and
Biak-Papua), LAPAN (21/11) announced Morotai
Island as a future spaceport site.
Planning started in December 2012.
The launch site's completion is expected in
2025.
In 2013, LAPAN planned to launch an RX-550
experimental satellite launcher from a location
in Morotai to be decided.
This island was selected according to the
following criteria:
Morotai Island's location near the equator,
which makes the launch more economical.
The island has seven runways, one of them
2,400 meters, easily extended to 3,000 meters.
The ease of building on Morotai, which is
not densely populated, and little potential
for social conflict with native inhabitants.
Morotai Island's east side faces the Pacific
Ocean directly, reducing downrange risks to
other island populations.
== Field installations ==
=== 
Ground stations ===
==== Remote-sensing satellite ground station
====
The Stasiun Bumi Satelit Penginderaan Jauh
("EO Satellite Ground Station") is located
at Parepare, South Sulawesi.
Its main functions include receiving and recording
data from earth observation satellites such
as Landsat, SPOT, ERS-1, JERS-1, Terra/Aqua
MODIS, and NPP operation since 1993.
==== Weather satellite ground stations ====
These ground stations, located at Pekayon,
Jakarta and Biak, receive, record, and process
data from NOAA, MetOp, and Himawari weather
satellites 24 times a day since 1982.LAPAN-TUBSAT
was the first Indonesian surveillance micro-satellite,
launched on 10 January 2007 by ISRO PSLV-C7
with Cartosat-2 developed with Technical University
(TU) Berlin, where the satellite was manufactured.
It circles the earth 14.5 times a day at an
altitude of 630 km, in a polar orbit with
an inclination of 97.60° and a period of
99.039 minutes.
The longitude shift per orbit is about 24.828°
with a ground track velocity of 6.744 km/s
with an angular velocity of 3.635 deg/s, and
a circular velocity of 7.542 km/s.
=== Rocket launch site ===
LAPAN manages a launch site called Stasiun
Peluncuran Roket (literally "Rocket Launching
Station"), located at Pameungpeuk Beach in
the Garut Regency on West Java (7.646643°S
107.689018°E﻿ / -7.646643; 107.689018).
The facility was built from 1963 through cooperation
between Indonesia and Japan, as the station
was designed by Hideo Itokawa with the aim
to support high atmospheric research using
Kappa-8 rockets.
This installation comprises a Motor Assembly
building, a Launch Control Center, a Meteorological
Sounding System building, a Rocket Motor Storage
hangar and a dormitory.
=== Radar ===
==== 
Koto Tabang Equator Atmospheric Radar ====
The Radar Atmosfer Khatulistiwa Koto Tabang
is a radar facility located at Koto Tabang,
West Sumatra.
It commenced operations in 2001.
This facility is used for atmospheric dynamics
research, especially areas concerning global
climate change, such as El Niño and La Niña
climate anomalies.
== Laboratory ==
=== 
Remote Sensing Technology and Data Laboratory
===
The Remote Sensing Technology and Data Laboratory
is located at Pekayon in Jakarta.
Its functions include: data acquisition systems
development, satellite payload imager systems
development, satellite ground station system
development, preliminary satellite imagery
image processing, such as geometric correction,
radiometric correction and National Remote
sensing Data Bank.
=== Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory
===
The Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory
at Pekayon, Jakarta, has main function works
with remote sensing satellite data applications
for Land Resource, Coastal-Marine Resources,
Environment Monitoring and Disaster Mitigation.
=== Rocket Motor Laboratory ===
The Laboratorium Motor Roket is located at
Tarogong, West Java.
It designs and produces rocket propulsion
systems.
=== Propellant Laboratory ===
The 'Laboratorium Bahan Baku Propelan ("Combustion
Propellant Laboratory") researches propellant,
such as oxidizer Ammonium perchlorate and
Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
=== Satellite Technology Laboratory ===
The Satellite Technology Laboratory is located
at Bogor, West Java.
Its functions include: research, development
and engineering of the satellite payload,
the satellite bus and facilities of the ground
segment.
=== Aviation Technology Laboratory ===
The Aviation Technology Laboratory is located
at Rumpin, West Java.
Its functions include: research, development
and engineering of aerodynamics, flight mechanics
technology, propulsion technology, avionics
technology and aerostructure.
== Observatories ==
=== Equatorial Atmosphere Observatory ===
The Equatorial Atmosphere Observatory of LAPAN
are located at Koto Tabang, West Sumatera,
has a function for research on, (1) High-resolution
observations of wind vectors will make it
possible to study the detailed structure of
the equatorial atmosphere that is related
to the growth and decay of cumulus convection;
(2) From long-term continuous observations,
relationships between atmospheric waves and
global atmospheric circulation will be clarified;
(3) By conducting observations from near the
surface to the ionosphere, it will be possible
to reveal dynamical couplings between the
equatorial atmosphere and ionosphere.
(4) Based on these results, transports of
atmospheric constituents such as ozone and
greenhouse gases, and the variations of the
Earth's atmosphere that lead to climatic change
such as El-Nino and La-Nina, will be revealed.
=== Solar Radiation Observatory ===
The 'Stasiun Pengamat Radiasi Matahari (Monitoring
Stations [for] Solar Radiation) observe ultraviolet
radiation of the sun.
Operations began in 1992.
These facilities were developed by Eko Instrument
from Japan, and are located at Bandung and
Pontianak.
=== Aerospace Observatory ===
The Aerospace Observatory of LAPAN are located
at Pontianak-West Kalimantan, Pontianak-North
Sulawesi, Kupang-East Nusa Tenggara and Watukosek-East
Java, has a function for the observations
in the field of Climatology, Atmosphere, Sun
and Geomagnet.
== Rockets ==
LAPAN rockets are classified "RX" (Roket Eksperimental)
followed by the diameter in millimeters.
For example, the RX-100 has a diameter of
100 mm.
LAPAN's current workhouse rocket propulsion
system consists of four stages, namely the
three-stage RX 420 and the RX-320 level.
It is planned to use the RX-420 as a booster
(rocket booster) RPS for the planned Roket
Pengorbit Satelit ("Orbital Satellite Rocket")
planned to fly in 2014.
In 2008 optimistic hopes were that this rocket,
known as SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle), would
first be launched in Indonesia to 2012, and
if there were extra funds pursuant to the
good economic situation of 2007-8, possibly
the year 2010.
In fact, the LAPAN budget for 2008 and 2007
was Rp 200 billion (approximately USD $20
million).
Budgetary issues surrounding the international
credit crises of 2008–2009 placed many Indonesian
technical projects in jeopardy most especially
the complete development of RX-420 and associated
micro-satellite program to world-class standards
ahead of project finalization schedule and
the opportunity to work together with the
world institutions.
LAPAN hopes to be an educating partner with
Indian Aerospace in sciences related to satellite.On
November 11, 2010, LAPAN spokesman said the
RX-550 rocket would undergo a static test
in December 2010 and a flight test in 2012.
The rocket will consist of four stages, will
be part of an RPS-01 rocket to put a satellite
in orbit.
Before, the Polar LAPAN-TUBSAT (LAPAN-A1)
satellite created in cooperation with Germany
was successfully placed in orbit and until
now still functioning well.
The aim is to have home-made rockets and satellites.LAPAN
has re-established and rejuvenated Indonesian
expertise in rocket and missile based weapons
systems in cooperation with the TNI AL [Armed
Forces of Indonesia] began in 2005.
In April 2008, Indonesian TNI began a new
missile research program alongside LAPAN.
Prior to this, eight projects were sponsored
by the TNI in Malacca monitoring with satellite
remote LAPAN-TUBSat, most especially the theft
of timber and alleged encroachment on Indonesian
territorial waters in the 2009 escalation
over Malaysia's claims to the huge gas fields
off Ambalat-island.
=== RX-100 ===
RX-100 has:
diameter of 110 mm
length of 1900 mm
mass of 30 kg and length of 1900 mm.
Functions: to test rocket payload subsystems.
Propellant type: solid-composite
Fuel time: 2.5 seconds,
Flight time: 70 seconds
Maximum speed: Mach 1.
Range: 11 km, 7000 m altitude,
Payload: Diagnostic,: GPS, altitude meter,
gyro, 3-axis accelerometer, CPU processor
and battery.
=== RX-150 / 120 ===
Two-stage rocket launching RX-150-120 supported
by TNI-AD (Indonesian Army) and PT Pindad.
Rocket with cruise distance 24 km was successfully
launched from moving vehicle (Pindad Panser)
on March 31, 2009.
=== R-Han 122 ===
R-Han 122 rocket has capability of a land-to-land
weapon with a shooting range up to 15 kilometers
with 1.8 Mach speed and on March 28, 2012
fifty R-Han 122 have been successfully launched.
The rocket are the result of the six years
LAPAN's work.
By 2014, at least 500 R-Han 122 rockets will
be part of army arsenal.
=== RX-250 ===
The main rocket, the Lapan RX-250 were launched
regularly between 1987 and 2005.
=== RX-320 ===
In 2008 Lapan successfully flew two RX-320.
These 320 mm diameter rockets were launched
on 2 July and 30 May 2008 at Pameungpeuk,
West Java.
== Space launchers ==
=== RPS-420 (Pengorbitan-1) ===
Category: micro-satellites orbital launch
vehicle, similar to Lambda from Japan, but
with lighter modern materials and modern avionics.
Launch unguided at a 70-degree angle of inclination
with a four-stage solid rocket motor launcher.Diameter:
420 mm
Length: 6200 mm
Lift-off mass: 1000 kg.
Propellant: solid composite, firing time 13
seconds
Thrust: 9.6 tons
Flight duration: 205 seconds
Maximum velocity: mach 4.5
Range: 101 km, 53000 m altitude
Payload: diagnostic, GPS, altimeter, gyro,
3-axis accelerometer, processor and battery.
The RX-420 was entirely built using local
materials.LAPAN carried out a stationary test
on RX-420 on 23 December 2008 in Tarogong,
West Java.
The RX-420 missile was tested at the launching
station Cilauteureun, Pameungpeuk District,
Garut regency, West Java.
The LAPAN RX-420 is the test bed for the entirely
indigenously developed satellite launch vehicle.
RX-420 is suitable for launch of micro-satellites
(50 kg or less) and nano-satellites (5 kg
or less) currently in co-development with
Technical University of Berlin
The rocket launching plan will be extended
in 2010 by launching combined RX-420-420 and
in 2011 for combined RX-420-420 – 320 and
SOB 420.
=== RPS-420/520 (Pengorbitan-2) ===
At planning stage are the RX-420 with multiple
customizable configuration boosters and the
planned 520mm RX-520.
The RX-520 is predicted to be able to launch
100 kg+ payload into orbit.
This large rocket is intended to be fueled
by high-pressure liquid.
Hydrogen Peroxide and various hydrocarbons
are under evaluation.
Addition of RX-420 boosters to the RX-520
is calculated to increase lifting capacity
to 500 kg+ payload, although if too expensive,
the proven Russian Soyuz and Energiya will
likely be employed.
RX-520 consists of one RX-420 and two boosters
of RX-420 in stage-1, one RX-420 in stage-2,
one RX-420 in stage-3 and as a payload launcher
one RX-320 in stage-4.
=== RX-550 ===
In 2013, LAPAN intends to launch an RX-550
experimental satellite launcher from some
point in Morotai to be decidee.
== LAPAN Library ==
In June 2009, LAPAN launched its extensive
online library of over 8000 titles on aeronautics
and astronautics.
This is the largest dedicated aerospace library
in ASEAN and it is hoped to bring Indonesian
and ASEAN talent into the LAPAN program, especially
for those disadvantaged by location.
It is unclear how much content will be available
freely to the public, and what specific form
of library will operate.
== Komurindo ==
Komurindo or Kompetisi Muatan Roket Indonesia
means Indonesia Payload Rocket Competition.
The competition is established by Lapan, Education
Ministry and some Universities, etc. for enhance
rocket research in the Universities.
The third competition has been done in late
June 2011 in the Pandansimo Beach of Bantul,
Yogyakarta.
== Aircraft ==
LAPAN XT-400
LSU-02
LSU-03
== Logo
