BRIN Reveals It Already Owns 100 Hectares of Land, Its Purpose Unexpected

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is preparing a site for the construction of a spaceport in Indonesia, with one location being Biak, Papua. ‘Yes, one of the candidate locations is in Biak. The study has been going on for a very long time, we have been conducting studies since the 1990s, so the plan has been around for a very long time. The community there is also waiting for when this will happen,’ said BRIN Head Arif Satria during the commemoration of 50 Years of Indonesian Satellites in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/7/2026). BRIN has coordinated with the regional government to mature the plan. However, Biak is not the only option, and studies are still being conducted on several alternative locations. The construction of a spaceport must provide benefits for the community. He stated that a core zone of 100 hectares is needed for launches, and BRIN already owns the land. ‘We need a core zone and a buffer zone. The core zone currently required is 100 hectares, and the land is already owned by BRIN; the land acquisition was completed a very long time ago,’ Arif explained. ‘We also need a buffer zone, which is a technical prerequisite in the development of a spaceport area,’ he added. Arif said a spaceport is not just a launch site but a main hub for an ecosystem to strengthen the community’s ability to provide satellite launch services. It is hoped that with this facility, Indonesia will no longer depend on foreign launch service providers and can offer launch sites for both domestic and international needs. ‘The development of this spaceport will also encourage the growth of various supporting industries, from manufacturing, advanced materials, avionics, and telemetry to logistics, mission control, and various space-based economic services that provide direct benefits to the people of Indonesia,’ he stated.