"For the environmental impact analysis, we will be working with Cenderawasih University as a higher education institution," LAPAN Head Thomas Djamaluddin told ANTARA in Jakarta, Friday.
LAPAN will also involve provincial and district governments to devise the review for plans to build a spaceport in Biak Island, Papua, which Djamaluddin pegged will start in 2020.
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"The review is expected to be completed in the next year, so it can serve as the basis for the planning," he stated.
He further noted that LAPAN had held initial talks on the environmental impact review with the university. The agreement for the collaboration is scheduled to be inked in 2020.
"We have spoken about the big picture. The cooperation agreement will come next year," he noted.
LAPAN is targeting the spaceport in Biak Island to become operational before 2024 at least to test out double decked rocket being developed by LAPAN's Rocket Technology Center.
A large-scale spaceport will be built through international cooperation for national and international rocket launches, with varying classifications.
Biak Island was chosen as the location for a spaceport, as it lies in proximity to the equator and the eastern part of the island directly faces the Pacific Ocean, deemed ideal for rocket launches.
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Translator: Martha Herlinawati S/Aria Cind
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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