A total of 23 teams passed the functional test in the Indonesia Rocket Payload Competition (Komurindo) 2011 which took place on Saturday (25/6) in the Pandansimo Beach, Bantul. With that result, the teams are eligible for the test launch on Sunday (26/6).
Committee Chairman of Komurindo 2011, Dr. Agfianto Eko Putra, M.Si., said that of the 23 teams, 14 teams qualify for the functional test on the first session and nine teams qualify for the functional test on the retry session. "A total of 23 teams qualify and 17 others fail, then the 23 teams who qualify are entitled to participate in tomorrow’s launch test," said Agfianto after the functional test on Saturday (25/6) afternoon.
The payload that passes the functional test later will be integrated with the rocket. The functional test today is joined by the entire 40 teams representing state and private universities in Indonesia that passed the selection. Two teams that were reportedly withdrew from the functional test were eventually able to participate. Two teams had arrived late on the functional test, namely the Red-White Garuda from Jakarta State University and the avionic Squad from University of Suryadarma Jakarta. "Both can participate in the functional test and just came behind the schedule," he added.
The dimensions, payload as well as functionality test is the opening event before the rocket launch competition held tomorrow Sunday (26/6). Agfianto said the competition with the theme "Attitude Monitoring and Surveillance" is a competition to get the design and construction of the rocket payload (payload) that is able to return/set off to the homing target after it is separated from the RUM70-100-LPN series rocket launcher. The rocket is fueled by solid propellant and able to reach 2 km of altitude. "Well, in principle the functional test decides whether the payload is qualified to be integrated with the rocket or not. For teams that do not qualify, the payload will be returned to the committee," he explained.
Meanwhile, Section Chief of the Competition, Triyogatama Wahyu Widodo, M. Kom., explains the requirements of rocket payload that are contested in Komurindo 2011 are in shape of cylinders containing electronic circuits and aquator systems that serve as a telemetry device for meteorological using three kinds of sensors, i.e. temperature, pressure and humidity. The direction of flying cargo to the target is guided using a compass autonomously as well as to able to communicate with the control system operators in the ground segment, the dimensions are: diameter 100 mm, height 200 mm, and maximum weight 1,000 grams.
Functionality test performed in several stages, which include tele-command test, static test, attitude monitoring test and surveillance payload as well as oral test. "That way, tomorrow could be the busiest launch up events with more than 30 teams. In the past year, only about 25 teams from 40 teams who qualified," Yoga said.
In the rocket launch test, Minister of National Education M. Nuh is planned to attend and watch the competition. Later, after attending the functional test and flight test selection, the participants of Komurindo will also presenting the results of flight test data. Komurindo 2011 is organized by Directorate General of Higher Education’s DP2M in cooperation with UGM, Lapan, Bantul regional government, and the AAU.