Indonesia is moving closer to building its first national spaceport. After years of planning, the project is finally taking shape.
Russia has expressed interest in taking part in the construction of Indonesia’s first national spaceport. According to Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov, President Prabowo Subianto signed a decree several months ago approving the project, after which Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos began discussions with Indonesian officials.
However, Russia is not the only country seeking to participate. Tolchenov said Indonesia is also considering proposals from other international space technology providers, with several countries competing to become a partner in the project.
Back in December 2024, the National Research and Innovation Agency BRIN announced its cooperation with Roscosmos. At the time, Biak Island in Papua Province was identified as the most suitable location for the future spaceport because of its favorable location. The project is intended to allow different customers to use the facility on a commercial basis.
In July 2026, the project moved to the next stage. Government Regulation No. 22/2026 came into force, creating a legal framework for the construction and management of spaceports and allowing construction to be funded not only from the state budget but also through international grants and private investment. BRIN, the Papua provincial government, and the Biak Numfor regency administration then signed a memorandum officially designating Biak as the site of the country’s first national spaceport.
At the same time, Indonesia is also expanding its cooperation with India. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the two sides agreed to step up their joint work in the space sector. In particular, BRIN plans to launch an Indonesian satellite from India and is discussing India’s involvement in building the spaceport.
Jakarta has not yet made a final choice of technology partner. But one thing is already clear: Indonesia is steadily developing the legal framework, selecting the construction site, and holding talks with several countries at once. If the project goes ahead, the country will have its first spaceport and its own rocket launch infrastructure.
Sources: Gazeta.ru, The Jakarta Post.
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