Space Diplomacy as a Way to Face the Era of Space Commercialization in Indonesia

Abstract

In its development, outer space activities have gone through a few stages. Initiated by the first launch of satellite to outer space up to the use of space of commercial activities. All of these progresses is subsidized by technological development and international legal framework in governing space activities. States have committed to cooperate amongst each other for the peaceful purposes of outer space declared in the five main international outer space treaties. As a developing equatorial country with specific geographical location, Indonesia has a steady desire in mastering and applying space science and technology. Consistent with its primary aims enlisted under the Indonesian Space Law; to improve Indonesia’s self-sufficiency and competitiveness in the area of space activities and to use space to benefit its population and to increase national productivity. Out of the various space activities such as space science and remote sensing that has been conducted by Indonesia, space commercialization is an area that has potentials in contributing to the aforementioned goals that has been brushed off. This paper aims to analyse the role of Indonesian diplomacy in setting up opportunities for space commercial improvement in hopes of closing the gap between developed and developing countries of rapid outer space advancement. This paper uses a normative legal research with conceptual and comparative approach.