Indonesia and Russia to build space rocket launch complex

Indonesia and Russia are combining forces to build a space rocket launch complex in Eastern Indonesia. The facility will be located on the island of Biak, in a remote part of the country. I’m not sure if this is a picture of heaven or hell. I mean its great that Indonesia is getting some technological help, but building a launch complex in a remote area of the country seems like it could upset the local culture. Who knows, maybe can be a bonus, maybe health services and education can be improved. It was only last week that a ‘Garden of Eden‘ was discovered in Eastern Indonesia. In that part of the country the inhabitants have a more Melanesian / Polynesian culture, than Bali and the islands to the west, who have a more Asian influenced culture.

Biak is part of West Papua (Irian Jaya) and a friend of mine who is a dive instructor told me his first visit to Indonesia was by boat to Ambon, then up to Biak. Both places have sensational scuba diving. Biak is actually on the edge of the western Pacific and gets surf, as do other islands up there.