Russia will put an Indonesian satellite into orbit around the Earth in 2007 using an air-launch system, local media reported Tuesday.
The system offered by the Russian Air Launch Aerospace Corporation includes an Antonov An-124-100AL carrier aircraft as a flying launch pad, a Polyot two-stage launch vehicle and an upper stage booster.
The two countries also plan to build a space port on Biak, an island in Indonesia's eastern Papua province, the Russian Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Gennady Ryabkov, head of the public relations department of the Air Launch Aerospace Corporation, was quoted by the agency as saying preparations for the launch have been started.
The Indonesian government also has created a working group for preparing the space launch. The Indonesian National Space and Aviation Agency will attract investments for the implementation of the project, the agency said.
