Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) and National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) Extended its Cooperation Contract

Rector of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Dr. Arif Satria, with Chairman of  National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN), Prof. Dr. Thomas Djamaluddin, agreed to continue cooperation in the development remote sensing microsatellite project. This cooperation aims to support the food security of the Indonesian nation. The IPB-LAPAN   agreement on the development remote sensing microsatellite partnership program marked by the signing of Understanding (MoU) IPB and LAPAN, in Rancabungur, Bogor, on 3 April 2018.

"IPB-LAPAN signed the MoU for the first Five-Year cooperative program in 2010, and was extended for another two years of renewal. The agreement will remain in effect for five years from the signature date, and may be renewed or amended by mutual agreement of the parties. This year the current cooperative work program will be extended for another five year 2018-2023," said Rector of IPB.

According to the MoU, through its partnerships over the next five years both parties will focus their cooperation on the development of Remote Sensing Technology Center, and Exploiting Satellite Remote-Sensing Data Center.

"Satellite data can be applied for monitoring actual, frequent and accurate data for predicting the condition of the Indonesian archipelago, especially the agricultural land and its productivity. As satellite is supported by a camera or imager that is able to determine newly cultivated rice or mature rice and ready to be harvested, "he said.

Hopefully in the future, the government especially the Ministry of Agriculture will cooperate with universities in Indonesia to improve agricultural development programs and can accurately predict. No longer stuck with predicting numbers only or it has really poor accuracy.

"The government can cooperate with LAPAN to access satellite data to help  Indonesian farmers improve rice harvests, as they  quickly distinguish when rice grains are completely mature and ready for harvest," said Rector.

In addition to IPB, on the same occasion there are four other universities that also signed MoU for cooperation with LAPAN. Those university were Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember. Surabaya (ITS); Syah Kuala University, Banda Aceh; Surya University, Summarecon Serpong, Tangerang; and Bandar Lampung University, Lampung. This cooperation is related to the satellite development and the utilization of satellite data.

Chairman of LAPAN, Prof. Dr. Thomas Djamaluddin, said the cooperation between LAPAN with universities in Indonesia aims to strengthen the competence of both parties. LAPAN can contribute to the development of space technology, data and information technologies to strengthen education and research in universities. LAPAN itself will be benefitted as the Institution will be able to develop its human resources as the result of cooperation.

"We have cooperated with Indonesian university, for example with IPB.  LAPAN  has launched LAPAN A3 satellite. It is a microsatellite for experimental remote sensing and maritime traffic monitoring. LAPAN-A3/IPB is one of the satellite development programs from National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, Indonesia, which was designed for specific experimental mission such as remote sensing, marine and fisheries research, land cover and shipping monitoring using AIS as well, that were needed to observe the Indonesian territory," explained Thomas.

In addition to the signing of cooperation with universities in Indonesia, LAPAN also inaugurated the S-Xband Mission Control Center antenna. This is the Mission Control Center (MCC). Currently, the antenna is the largest in Indonesia with a diameter of 11.28m. It is integrated with a satellite mission control center building in LAPAN, also can receive Automatic Identification System (AIS) data coming from ships worldwide. The antenna has also been designed to be able to receive and transmit from the next generation LAPAN satellite, so that the operation of LAPAN satellite missions can be done optimally.

Present in the signing of the MoU among others were Director General of Research and Development Research and Development of Kemenristekdikti, Dr. Muhammad Dimyati, representative of Commission VII DPR RI, Drs. Nawawi Saleh, staff of LAPAN, private parties and community. (Wied)