National Institute of Aeronautics and Space
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National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Indonesian: Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional/LAPAN) is the Indonesian government space agency. It was established in November 27, 1964 by the former Indonesian president Suharto after one year of informal space agency organization. Like the United States of America's NASA, it is also responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research. For over two decades, LAPAN has launched many satellites and most are telecommunication satellites, including the Palapa project satellites.
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[edit] History
On May 31st, 1962, Indonesia started its aeronautics exploration when the Aeronautics Committee was established by the First Indonesian Minister, Juanda. Besides Juanda, who was also the Head of Indonesian Aeronautics, the Secretary of Indonesian Aeronautics, RJ Salatun, was also involved in the establishment.
Several months later, on September 22, 1962, the First Scientific and Military Rocket Project (known in Indonesia as Proyek Roket Ilmiah dan Militer Awal and PRIMA) was made 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"(Which mean "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 President's Decision No. 236.
[edit] Programmes
For more than 20 years, LAPAN has created and lauched several satellites, although most of them are telecommunication satellites. Recently, LAPAN lauched LAPSAT-1 and LAPSAT-2 which were equipped with black and white CCD cameras.
[edit] Palapa Program
Known as the Palapa constellation, the satellites provide the Indonesia domestic communication system. Palapa, which means 'fruits of labor' in Indonesian, has been established since 1976 to provide a communication system for about 6,000 inhabited islands in Indonesia.
[edit] Palapa A1 and A2
The first program was the Palapa A1 and A2 which were launched on August 7, 1976 and October 3, 1977 respectively. The basic characteristics were identical with Canada's Anik and Western Union's Westars although the Indonesian spacecrafts had a larger parabolic reflector concerning the large area of the archipelago. Although the satellites were belong to the government-owned company, named Perumtel, the spacecrafts were made in the United States.
[edit] Field Installations
The headquarter of the LAPAN is located at LAPAN Space Center in Jakarta. Other buildings and space centers are spread around the archipelago, from Aceh to Papua.
[edit] Radar
[edit] Koto Tabang Equator Atmospheric Radar
Located at Koto Tabang, West Sumatra, this radar facility is known in Indonesia as Radar Atmosfer Khatulistiwa Koto Tabang. It started to operate in 2001. This facility is used for atmospheric dynamics researches, especially world climate change, such as El Niño and La Niña climate anomalies.
For further reading, see Kototabang Equator Atmospheric Radar Facility Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Ground Station
[edit] Remote Sensing Satellites Ground Station
Located at Pare-pare,Makassar South Sulawesi, this ground station known in Indonesia as Stasiun Bumi Satelit Penginderaan Jauh. Its main functions are for receiving and recording data from earth observation satellite such as Landsat, Spot, ERS-1, and JERS-1.
For further reading, see Remote Sensing Satellites Ground Station Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Weather Satellites Ground Station
Located at Pekayon, Jakarta and Biak, this ground station known in Indonesia as Stasiun Bumi Satelit Lingkungan dan Cuaca. Its main functions are for receiving, recording, and processing data from weather satellite NOAA, 24 times a day.
For further reading, see Weather Satellites Ground Station Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Laboratory
[edit] Main Computer Laboratory
Located at Pekayon, Jakarta, this laboratory known in Indonesia as Laboratorium Komputer Induk. Its main function is for preliminary satellite imagery image processing, such as geometric correction and radiometric correction.
For further reading, see Main Computer Laboratory Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Quality Test and Photography Laboratory
Located at Pekayon, Jakarta, this laboratory known in Indonesia as Laboratorium Fotografi dan Uji mutu. Its main function is for satellite imagery digital image processing and satellite imagery film photographic film image processing.
For further reading, see Quality Test and Photography Laboratory Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Rocket Motor Laboratory
Located at Tarogong, West Java, this laboratory known in Indonesia as Laboratorium Motor Roket. It designs and produces rocket propulsion system.
For further reading, see Rocket Motor Laboratory Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Propellant Laboratory
This laboratory known in Indonesia as Laboratorium Bahan Baku Propelan. It researches propellant, such as oxidizer Ammonium perchlorate and Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
For further reading, see Propellant Laboratory Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] Observatory
[edit] Sun Radiation Observatory
Located at Bandung and Pontianak, this observatory known in Indonesia as Stasiun Pengamat Radiasi Matahari. Its main use is for observing ultraviolet radiation of the sun. Started to operate in 1992, this facility is developed by Eko Instrument from Japan.
For further reading, see Sun Radiation Observatory Information Detail (Indonesian).
[edit] External links
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