BRIN Promotes the Development of Satellite Technology in Indonesia

Indonesia is enthusiastically advancing its satellite technologies, opening new avenues for national development and strengthening various sectors. The Head of BRIN’s Satellite Technology Research Centre, Wahyudi Hasbi, emphasizes that satellite technology has become a necessity for the nation. Given Indonesia’s vast territory, satellites play a crucial role in ensuring communication and overseeing remote regions. Currently, satellites in Indonesia are used for navigation, disaster management, and satellite monitoring. These data are essential for infrastructure planning and strengthening defence, as well as education in isolated areas. BRIN is focused on developing microsatellites weighing approximately 100 kilograms. These small satellites offer great flexibility and much lower launch costs compared to large satellites. They can also be operated in constellations, ensuring more sustainable functionality over time. Satellites are designed to meet specific national needs, such as disaster monitoring, maritime region surveillance, and agricultural sector assessment. The development process includes systematic engineering from design to testing simulation. A significant challenge is maintaining the stability of the multispectral camera to ensure high-quality and accurate data. The involvement of universities in this research is deemed crucial, and international collaboration continues to be strengthened to support talent transfer and cost sharing in future technology development.