National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (/
LAPAN) is the
Indonesian government
space agency. It was established on November 27, 1963 by former Indonesian president
Sukarno after one year's existence of an informal space agency organization. LAPAN is responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research. For over two decades, it has managed
satellites^ domain-developed small scientific-technology satellites
Lapan and telecommunication satellites
Palapa, which were built by Hughes (now
Boeing Satellite Systems) and launched from the US on
Delta rockets or from
French Guiana using
Ariane 4 and
Ariane 5 rockets. It has also developed
sounding rockets and has been developing small orbital
space launchers that will allow Indonesia to join the
space power's club within the 2012-2014 time frame. It has also been reported that LAPAN plans to launch its first indigenous space launcher with a satellite payload some time in November 2013.