Jakarta – PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), the first private satellite company in Indonesia, continues to carry out its big mission in increasing education about space technology in a sustainable manner for the young generation of Indonesia. Thanks to the implementation of a strong commitment, PSN successfully guided the Space Team, three talented students from SMKN 4 Pontianak, West Kalimantan, in developing and launching an amateur rocket called “Roket Nusantara”, so that it was able to record an altitude record of one kilometer.
Assistant for Aerospace Potential (Aspotdirga) Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Marsda TNI Palito Sitorus, stated that his party appreciated the success of the Space Team in launching an amateur rocket after going through a series of trials at the Air Weapon Range (AWR) in Lumajang, East Java. Marsda TNI Palito Sitorus hopes that the success of the Space Team will spark other young generations to participate in the development and launch of amateur rockets in Indonesia.
“We appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication of the younger generation in developing space technology from an early age. The Indonesian Air Force is ready to collaborate by providing facilities to support the trial launch of amateur rockets to improve Indonesia’s capabilities in the use of space technology,” said Marsda TNI Palito Sitorus on Wednesday (12/3)
President Director of Pacific Satellite Nusantara and Chairman of the Indonesian Space Association, Adi Rahman Adiwoso, explained that as a pioneer of a national satellite company, PSN has the responsibility to disseminate education about space technology in the country, as well as encourage the courage of the nation’s next generation to continue to move forward with various innovations to build a sustainable future for the space industry in Indonesia. Through this concrete step, Adi Rahman is optimistic that it will attract more interest and enthusiasm from the younger generation to learn space technology so that in the future Indonesia will have superior Human Resources (HR) for the advancement of the national space industry.
“We will continue to carry out this responsibility to support the presence of the country’s young generations who excel in space technology. With the success of the Space Team and in line with the mission of the Indonesian Space Association in realizing the progress and independence of national space, PSN will be at the forefront of open access to information and education about space technology in Indonesia,” said Adi Rahman.
In the successful development and launch of Roket Nusantara, PSN provided experience and learning through an internship program to the Space Team, Daris Cahyo Adi (17 Years Old), Fathur Rahman (17 Years Old), and Abdul Aziz (18 Years Old), from October 2024 to February 2025. During the program, two mentors from the Nanosat Surya Satellite-1 Team under the auspices of the PSN Space Technology Department, Afiq Herdika Sulistya and Muhammad Zulfa Dhiyaulhaq, accompanied the Space Team. As part of the final project of the internship program at PSN, as well as a graduation requirement from SMKN 4 Pontianak, the Space Team developed the Nusantara Rocket with a target altitude of 900 meters using ANCP (Ammonium Nitrate Composite Propellant) fuel.
Before the launch stage, the Space Team first conducted a series of static engine tests on December 24, 2024 at the PSN facility in Cikarang, West Java, to ensure optimal rocket performance. After this phase was passed, the Space Team conducted a test launch in 2 batches located at the Air Weapon Range (AWR), Lumajang, East Java. The launch of batch 1 was carried out on January 16-17. In this phase, the Space Team conducted two launch tests. On the second launch, the Nusantara 0.2 Rocket reached a height of 76 meters.
Furthermore, batch 2 will be carried out on February 25-26, 2025 with three test launches of the Nusantara Rocket. In the last launch test, the Nusantara 0.5 rocket launched more than 1 kilometer in the air at a subsonic speed of 200 meters per second. Despite some obstacles, this achievement marks the starting point of tremendous success for vocational school students in Indonesia.
“We would like to thank the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Marshal TNI M. Tonny Harjono for providing support to PSN so that the Space Team can conduct a series of Nusantara Rocket trials at the Air Weapon Range. The success of the Space Team also proves that Indonesia has superior human resources and a high fighting spirit to learn space technology,” said Adi Rahman.
Strengthen Collaboration
Adi Rahman continued that his party is also ready to collaborate with vocational high schools in Indonesia, universities, and the government to create amateur rocket projects and other space technology developments. With more and more talented students participating in this project, it will further expand the knowledge of the Indonesian young generation on space technology.
This condition certainly has the potential to further increase the capacity and capabilities of the national space industry in the future. “Collaboration between industry players, educational units, universities, the government, and associations, in supporting amateur rocket projects needs to be empowered more widely to support the progress of the national space industry. And, the big vision is to realize the independence and sustainability of national space technology so that Indonesia can later maximize the sustainable use and access to space for the progress of the nation and state,” concluded Adi Rahman.
