INDONESIA SUCCESFULLY LAUNCHES THE BIGGEST ROCKET

  

Garut, 3/7/2009 (Kominfo-Newsroom) – Division Head of Human Relations for National Aeronautics and Space Institute (LAPAN), Elly Kuntjahyowati, said on Friday (3/7), LAPAN was successfully launched RX-420, which was the biggest rocket manufactured by LAPAN, and got its “Golden Data” status. All data parameter were recorded in the first ten seconds after it was launched from Cilauteuren Rocket Launching Station, the LAPAN test-fly installation, in Pameungpeuk-Garut.

Based on the Golden Data identifying the motor and rocket fuel was in a good condition, LAPAN could reconstruct the flying rocket performances with 5% error ratio. This launch was part of satellite launch rocket (RPS) production that was projected to fly in 2014. Before this launch, LAPAN had also successfully tested static RX-420 on 23 December 2008 in Tarogong, West Java, that produced 100 ton second power, as well as two 320 mm diameters rockets RX-320 on 2 July and 30 May 2009, in Pameungpeuk, Garut, West Java. Besides RX-420, two RX-100 were also tested to fly. It had 110 mm diameters, 30 kg launch weight, 1900 mm length.

Chief Engineer of RX-420, Lilis Maryani, said the test-flies were accomplished to find out the technical specifications before it would be applied to RPS with elevation angle of 700, maximum high of 53 km, radius of 101 km, and speed of 4.4 mach.

Minister of Research and Technology, Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, acknowledged that rocket technology is the high-ranked program of LAPAN in which the development proposed is only for the sake of peace or people’s welfare, such as the weather and focus point observation.

Besides Kusmayanto and Marzan A. Iskandar, Head of the Assessment and Implementation of Technology Agency (BPPT), this test-fly of the biggest LAPAN rocket was also attended by the representatives of Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), Department of Defense, Indonesian National Army and State Police, Indonesian Aerospace (PT DI), and PT Bukaka.

Elly explained that RPS, which will be launched in the next 5 years by Indonesia, is designed of 4 levels, that are 3 levels of RX-420 and 1 level of RX-320. It is expected that the RX-420 can be a RPS booster which will be developed by LAPAN continually.

Source:
http://www.depkominfo.go.id/2009/07/03/indonesia-berhasil-luncurkan-roket-terbesar/
As published on www.indonesia.go.id

Mobile technology may help city dwellers hitch ride

BERLIN (Reuters) - Hitch-hikers have always used their thumbs to get a ride. Now a new invention aims to update the technique -- allowing mobile phone users to dial-a-driver.
The mobile ride-sharing service being developed by researchers in Germany combines internet and mobile technologies to match drivers to passengers for trips around town, without them having to arrange it long beforehand.
While traditional car sharing services require commuters to register routes in advance, the promoters of "OpenRide" say their product enables drivers to enter a destination on their mobile phone when they are already on the road.
A server tracks the vehicle's current location and scans for ride requests. If the software finds a match, the driver is notified and has the option of picking up passengers en route.
The driver and passenger negotiate a fare for the journey, typically covering fuel costs. The developers want to make it possible for passengers to rate drivers, to increase safety.
Online car sharing portals are already a popular way of commuting longer distances between towns and cities in Germany. Numerous websites allow drivers to advertise their journeys and the number of available seats in advance.
The industry has diversified in recent years, with platforms catering specifically for women as well as pet portals to transport four-legged friends.
Rising fuel and train ticket prices coupled with an increasing environmental awareness are all helping to boost its popularity.
Matthias Fluegge, project director at Berlin-based Fraunhofer Fokus research institute, behind "OpenRide," said it should be ready for market release in 2010.

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

Google Street View Dikomplain Lagi

(Foto: Search Engine Journal)

TOKYO - Layanan Google Street View lagi-lagi menuai kritik. Kali ini, giliran warga Jepang yang memprotesnya.

Di negara lain, Google Street View dikritik karena fungsinya yang dinilai terlalu transparan. Tak jauh berbeda, orang-orang di Jepang pun nampaknya merasa tidak nyaman jika transparansi layanan Google ini bisa mengganggu privasi mereka.

Beberapa pengguna di Jepang secara terbuka telah menyampaikan keberatan mereka. Google Jepang telah mengambil gambar dan mempublikasikan foto-foto, tak hanya di jalanan, tetapi juga mempublikasikan foto keadaan dalam rumah penduduk. Selain itu, Google pun menampilkan wajah seseorang dengan sangat jelas hingga plat nomor kendaraan.

Tentu saja yang mereka khawatirkan adalah, pelaku kriminal bisa dengan mudah memanfaatkannya untuk berbagai kepentingan. Demikian keterangan yang dikutip dari Search Engine Journal, Senin (7/9/2009). 

Street View di Jepang baru berumur satu tahun. Sejak diluncurkan pada 2008, layanan ini telah menyimpan ribuan gambar kota-kota di Jepang dari berbagai sudut.

Google menyadari bahwa layanan ini bisa menimbulkan banyak masalah. Oleh karenanya, mereka kemudian telah merancang sistem formal dimana para penduduk bisa mengajukan komplain mereka secara resmi. Setelah menerima komplain, Google kemudian akan mengirimkan perintah untuk menghapus gambar yang tidak diinginkan. (rah)