Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits LAPAN A2 manufacturing facility. (Source: Tempo) Indonesia launched a satellite named LAPAN A2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Sriharikota on September 28.
Director of Indonesia’s National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) Thomas Djamaluddin said LAPAN 2 satellite was produced by engineers from LAPAN.
According to the official, the 78-kilogram satellite will orbit the Earth along the equator with an altitude of 650 kilometres, able to circle the Earth 14 times a day. It functions as a tool to monitor ship movements and sea resources, thus providing aid for maritime rescue operations.
It was equipped with an automatic identification system and a digital camera, which make it possible to determine the position of ships crossing within Indonesia’s territory and take photographs of the Earth.
LAPAN 2’s operations will be managed by Rancabungur authorities in Borgor province in the west of Java Island.
Thomas revealed that his country p lans to manufacture rockets for launching satellites itself in the future, Thomas revealed. Indonesia launched the LAPAN 1 satellite in 2007, which is currently at altitude of 630 kilometres from the Earth’s surface. However, the satellite halted its operations in 2013.-VNA
