BRIN: Indonesia Has Opportunity to Join Lunar Observatory Mission Collaboration
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has outlined opportunities for Indonesia to participate in a collaborative mission involving an astronomical observatory on the Moon. This collaboration is considered essential as an initial step to strengthen Indonesia’s national space research capacity.
Emanuel Sungging Mumpuni, Head of BRIN’s Space Research Centre, explained that astronomical observations have historically been conducted from Earth’s surface using telescopes or cameras directed at the sky. However, future observations could also be conducted directly from the Moon.
“This morning, we will broaden our perspective and study these opportunities,” Emanuel stated in an official statement on Friday, 13 February.
The colloquium featured astronomer Chatief Kunjaya from Bandung Institute of Technology, who also serves as Board Director of the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA). He explained that lunar astronomical observations offer several advantages over Earth-based observations.
Radio wave observations from Earth are frequently disrupted by various radio signal interferences. In contrast, observations from the Moon could minimise such interference because the lunar surface can block radio wave interference from Earth.
“When we want to observe radio waves from the universe from Earth, there will be many interference interferences from other radio waves. However, if placed on the Moon, interference from Earth can be blocked,” he said.
He also noted that the Moon has permanently dark regions in crater bases with extremely low temperatures, allowing observation cameras to operate without requiring additional cooling systems.
Additionally, the Moon’s surface is relatively stable with minimal movement, enabling the construction of observation systems such as Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI).
The Moon’s extremely thin atmosphere also allows starlight to be seen more clearly compared to observations from Earth’s low orbit.
In his presentation, Kunjaya referenced the successful ILO-X project, which successfully landed on the Moon using the Nova-C lander. However, during landing, one of the spacecraft’s legs struck a rock, leaving the camera in a tilted position and resulting in suboptimal observations.
“ILO-X was successful because it landed on the Moon and transmitted photographs from the observations. However, during landing, one of the spacecraft’s legs struck a rock, so the camera was observing from a tilted position,” he said.
The ILO-X project is described as a preliminary trial before development of the main projects, ILO-1 and ILO-2. In subsequent projects, cameras capable of autonomous movement will be required to enable more optimal observations.
Kunjaya assessed that Indonesia has the opportunity to contribute to this mission, including in developing observation camera instruments for the ILO-2 project.
“By continuing to participate in the ILOA programme, Indonesia has the opportunity to further explore outer space,” he said.
He stressed that benefits from such activities may not be directly apparent at present but will have significant impact on scientific and technological development in the future.
“Indonesia must prepare itself, particularly in terms of capacity building, as it has the potential to participate in lunar astronomical observatory missions,” he concluded.