Indonesia advances space program with NEO-1 satellite

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is set to launch the NEO-1 satellite in January 2027, marking the country's first domestically developed satellite built by Indonesian researchers with a domestic component level (TKDN) of 65 percent.

NEO stands for Nusantara Earth Observation satellite.

BRIN Head Arif Satria said the project demonstrates Indonesia's capability to advance innovation in satellite technology and sustain the domestic development of various types of satellites.

"The launch of NEO-1 will be an important milestone, demonstrating Indonesia's growing capability to master the entire satellite technology value chain," Satria said during the 50th anniversary celebration of Indonesia's satellite program in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He noted that BRIN has developed nearly every aspect of the NEO-1 mission using national expertise, from mission planning and system design to software development, testing, satellite operations, and ground station support.

NEO-1 is designed as a national Earth observation satellite and belongs to the mini-satellite category, featuring medium- and high-resolution imaging capabilities.

"NEO-1 contains approximately 65 percent domestic content (TKDN), and once again, this is a source of pride for all Indonesians," Satria said.

The satellite is expected to strengthen the country's Earth observation capabilities by providing imagery for regional mapping, agriculture, forestry, maritime affairs, disaster mitigation, environmental monitoring, and vessel tracking through the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

In addition, NEO-1 will support government programs, industrial research, and public services that rely on satellite-based Earth observation data.

Following the launch of NEO-1, BRIN plans to continue developing other satellite technologies to deliver broader benefits for Indonesia.

One of the agency's priorities is the development of a national telecommunications satellite to strengthen nationwide connectivity.

"Mastering telecommunications satellite technology is a strategic investment that strengthens digital sovereignty, enhances economic competitiveness, and reduces dependence on foreign technology and service providers," Satria said.

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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Editor: Primayanti

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