We remember the National Technology Awakening Day was initiated following the launching of N250 plane..."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Research and Technology has taken aerospace as the theme for the commemoration of the 18th National Technology Awakening Day (Hakteknas) as an appreciation for the achievement made in the field of aerospace technology in 2013.

"We remember the National Technology Awakening Day was initiated following the launching of N250 plane which was considered as a symbol of the rise of technology in Indonesia," according to the executive chairman of the committee for the commemoration of National Technology Awakening Day Goenawan Wybisana here on Tuesday.

He explained that his office has taken up aerospace as the theme for the event in view of the great accomplishment made by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) with its production of A2 satellite.

"The A2 satellite should have been launched this year but because we do not have a launching station and there is a problem with the station in India it has therefore been rescheduled in the second quarter of 2014," he explained.

Another achievement made by Indonesian scientists in the aerospace sector is the manufacturing of a ballistic missile that has a range of over 100 kilometers.

In addition to that, he said, there is also the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) made by the Technology Assessment and Application of Agency (BPPT) that has been tested before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He went to say that the UAV has also broken the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) with its capability to fly over a distance of 200 kilometers.

"There are still lots of achievements made by our friends in colleges who are studying aerospace, including a flying car founded by academics at the Bandung Technology Institue," he said.

The National Technology Awakening Day is celebrated every August 10. The peak of the commemoration will be held at Indonesian Miniature Park (TMII) on August 29, and it is scheduled to be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Various activities are also planned to enliven the event including an Information and Technology National Coordinating Meeting (Rakornas IPTEK) on August 27-28 as well as a commission meeting which will discuss seven areas of Information and Technology namely food, energy, information and communication technology (ICT), defense and security, advanced materials, health and medicine on August 28.***4***

reporting by Virna P Setyorini

(Uu.I029/H-YH)

(T.SYS/A/I029/A/H-YH) 30-07-2013 19:16:01

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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