RI needs to support Space Law: Legislator<\/p>\n
COCOA BEACH, Florida (JP): The Indonesian government needs to
\nprepare to implement its Air Law to boost development of the
\ncountry's satellite industry, a legislator said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammad Buang, said
\nthat Indonesia would face unbalanced competition with developed
\ncountries for orbital slots for telecommunications satellites.<\/p>\n
\"Orbital slots over one country should be owned by the
\ncountry. But the slot ownership is currently arranged by the
\nSwiss-based International Telecommunications Union, which allows
\na country to place its satellites over other countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Buang, a member of DPR's Commission X on research, technology
\nand environmental affairs, is in Florida to witness the launch of
\nIndonesia's Palapa-C1 satellite today.<\/p>\n
Ben Mesakh, a member of House Commission V which oversees
\ntelecommunications, transportation and public housing affairs, is
\nalso in Cocoa Beach, a small town near Cape Canaveral, and a
\ncommercial launching site for satellites.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of telecommunications satellites orbit the earth.
\nThey follow low earth orbits (LEO), sun synchronous orbits (SSO),
\nearth synchronous orbits (ESO), and geo-stationer orbits (GSO).<\/p>\n
According to Buang, the government should cover at least the
\nGSO in its Air Law. GSO are about 36,000 kilometers from earth.<\/p>\n
Indonesia currently has four GSO satellites -- the Palapa B2P
\n(at 113 degrees east longitude), Palapa-B4 (118 degrees east
\nlongitude), Palapa-B2R (108 degrees east longitude) and Palapa
\nPacific 1 (134 degrees east longitude).<\/p>\n
Indonesia has arranged dozens of GSO slots with International
\nTelecommunications UnionI. Indonesia is seeking to secure at
\nleast 24 slots for its Palapa-B generation, Palapa-C generation,
\nPalapa Pacific, Garuda and Indostar satellites.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia should look for support from other developing
\ncountries to prepare its Air Law in line with international
\npacts,\" Buang said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian reporters visited launching pad No. 36 at Cape
\nCanaveral to see Palapa-C1 encapsulated in a 14-meter diameter
\nand 57-meter high fairing.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo), the state-
\nowned insurance company, announced in Jakarta yesterday that it
\nwill insure Indonesia's Palapa-C1 satellite during its launching
\nin Cape Canaveral, Florida.<\/p>\n
It said that under a deal signed recently, Jasindo will
\ncooperate with PT Citra International Underwriter and 17 other
\ndomestic and foreign insurance companies to insure the satellite
\nwhen it is launched Feb. 1.<\/p>\n
Jasindo did not disclose details of the insurance contract for
\nthe Palapa-C1 satellite, which was bought by PT Satelindo from
\nUnited States-based Hughes Communication International at a price
\nof US$196.88 million. (icn\/hen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-needs-to-support-space-law-legislator-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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