LAPAN SLV

LAPAN SLV

Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN)

The National Space and Aeronautics Institute (LAPAN) plans to launch its RX-420 rocket for the first
time on July 2. RX-420 rocket fabrication took three months only, with specification as follows: 420
mm diameter, 1,000 kg launching load, 6,200 mm long, fuel solid, 13 sec combustion time, 205 sec
departure time, 4.5 mach maximum speed, 101 km predicted cruise distance range, 53 km predicted
vertical distance and with load: diagnostic tool, GPS, altitude-meter, gyro, 3-axis accelerometer,
processor and battery.
The RX-420 rocket is the forerunner to Indonesia's next indigenous orbital satellite launching vehicle
program. The announcement was made by Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman in
Jakarta. During a meeting with Commission VII of the House of Representatives, Kadiman said the
launch of the RX-420 rocket, with a range of 100 km, will be conducted by LAPAN, which had
successfully launched a RX-320 rocket in 2008. He added that the RX-420 rocket possessed more
power than the RX-320 and its range could be increased to 190 km if the rocket's weight was reduced.
Apart from the scheduled launch in July, there are plans to carry out further test launches in 2010 and
2011. In 2014, LAPAN will have finished all its experimental rocket launches and will have already
developed a rocket with a range of 300 km and speed of 7.8 km/sec allowing it to carry a small
satellite into space, he said, adding that this would be a “monumental achievement.”

LAPAN or Lembaga Antariksa dan Penerbangan Nasional (English: National Institute of

Aeronautics and Space) is the government space agency. It was established on November 27, 1964 by
President Suharto.
LAPAN that already 45 years on November 27, since 2007 had boosted rocket and satellite study and
development, especially after got ability to produce solid rocket fuel.
In 2007, RX-250 (250 mm) had been launched successfully with distance 53 km. After good result on
static test, RX-320 rocket has successfully launched in Pameungpek, West Java on May 19, 2008 by
transmitting navigation system data, aerodynamics performance, trajectory, environment condition
and any obstruction during launching. The special improvement from this test was RX-320 rocket used
Indonesian own solid propellant. RX-320 rocket has dimension 320 mm diameter x 4,736 mm long and
weight 532 kg. The trust power is 52 ton and reached 42 km as per design.
After successfully launched that experimental rocket with diameter 320 mm or coded RX-320, LAPAN
again succeeded static test RX-420 on 23/12/2008 at LAPAN Aerospace Technology Center, Tarogong,
Tangerang. In 2009, Chief of LAPAN Adi Sadewo Salatun said after successful static test of RX-420,
rocket launching program will be continued in 2009.

This RX-420 rocket is the main part of the first LAPAN satellite orbital launching vehicle (SLV-1) that
scheduled in 2014, said by Yus Kadarusman Markis, chief of LAPAN Aerospace Technology Center. SLV-
1 consists of three-stage rockets, which is in the first stage will be three RX-420 as booster, in second
stage one RX-420 as sustainer and the last is RX-320. With that configuration and LAPAN solid fuel,
the SLV-1 has capability to launch nano satellite to the orbit.
One RX-420 rocket is designed to have distance range about 120 km,. With SLV-1 configuration, it
may reach a vertical height up to 400 km. This rocket can be loaded 5 kg load to be able to the orbit

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 LAPAN SLV

minimum 250 km high and at horizontal speed at 8 km/sec.

For the next development, LAPAN will develop rockets with bigger diameter, such as RX-540 and RX-
750, and liquid fuel that has better performance than solid fuel. RX-420 is the sixth rocket developed
by Lapan after 70, 100, 150, 250, and 320 mm.

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