China to launch Pakistani communications satellite on August
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:14 pm
Pakistan launches its first indigenously developed communications satellite on August 11, 2011, from a facility in China.The PAKSAT-1R, commercially known as PAKSAT-1Replacement, is a Geostationary and an advanced Communication satellite which is schedule to launch in 2011 for the replacement of PAKSAT-1 which is currently in a geostationary orbit at 38° east. Known as Project-Paksat-IR, it is the first locally built satellite by scientists and engineers from Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission under the technical guidance and financial assistance from counterpart China National Space Administration of People's Republic of China (PRC).It carries communications payload to facilitate the introduction of a range of new services, including broadband Internet, digital television broadcasting, remote and rural telephony, emergency communications, tele-education and tele-medicine. The satellite is expected to have 15 years lifespan, and will be operated from Suparco Satellite Ground Station.It mass is 1,050 kilograms (2,300 lb). HistoryThe research in space programme at the Punjab University, following the successful launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957. In 1961, Military Government of Pakistan led by Field Marshal Ayub Khan established the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) under the advice of Abdus Salam. Since then, the research activities were began as series of rocket testing began. In 1986, Suparco developed the first locally and ingeniously built Badr-I, that was launched in 1990 by People's Republic of China.In 1 February 1996, Suparco attained Palapa C1 as PAKSAT-1. After an anomaly in the electrical system of the satellite on 24 November 1998 and the failure of a module for controlling the hydro accumulators, the Hughes Global Services (HGS) had taken over on the HS-601 satellite bus. The HGS managed to develop and implementation of a strategy that allowed the continued use of the satellite in geostationary orbit without too much restrictions. Eventually by Pakistan as a PAKSAT-1 satellite is currently leased to a location at 38° East in geostationary orbit since April 2004 and be active. In 2012, the satellite will be inactive and will be decommission from its services.PrototypeAlthough the satellite is underdeveloped in China, a prototype of PAKSAT-IR was developed by SUPARCO at its Satellite Research & Development Center (SRDC) Lahore. The project was aimed to enhance the know-how of young scientists and engineers about communication satellite engineering. Prototype PakSat-1R is a communication satellite, which has three C-band Transponders as the communication payload. All the subsystems have been designed and developed indigenously. Integration and testing have also been performed. Suparco reported that the project was completed in three years.Current StatusThe satellite is expected to be launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), and its rocket booster is reported by Long March 3B. According to Suparco, the satellite is currently under development and will be launched according to schedule. In 2010, China provided loans for setting up the advance communication facilities at Satellite Ground Station (SGS).However, according to Daily Jang, Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly frozen the funds allotted to the satellite program, defaulting the contracts signed in 2008 by Suparco with United States and China. According to Jang, Zardari has froze funds for the space, and the programs related to national security. Planning Commission and Suparco officials admitted the allegations, and presented their resentment towards the Government. However, both China and Suparco are committed to launch the satellite on its expected date.On March 14, Secretary of SUPARCO, Arshad H. Siraj denied such allegations. According to Suparco, there is no shortage of resources nor any budget cut for the developmental programs of SUPARCO. And, the fabrication of PakSat-1R is going smoothly and SUPARCO is not facing any financial crises, SUPARCO officials concluded. The SUPARCO's officials are committed to launch the satellite according to its schedule, and on time.Pakistan launches its first indigenously developed communications satellite on August 11, 2011, from a facility in China.Paksat-1R will replace Paksat-1, a leased satellite, to ensure continuity of service. In the 1990s, Pakistan also operated a small satellite, Badr-A, in low earth orbit. The country's modest space program, however, has been more oriented towards remote sensing applications. Pakistan Space Programme in GlimpseBadr-1Badr-A (Badr-1) was Pakistan's first indigenously developed satellite and was launched from the Xichang Launch Centre in China on July 16, 1990 aboard a Chinese Long March 2E rocket. Badr-A weighed 150 pounds, and was inserted into an elliptical orbit of 127-615 miles by the rocket. The satellite successfully completed its design life. SUPARCO started building the small amateur radio satellite in late 1986 with support from the Pakistan Amateur Radio Society. The satellite was named Badr inspired from the Urdu language word for 'new moon'. Badr-1 was planned to be launched on the US Space Shuttle, but the 1986 Challenger explosion and consequent delay in American flights changed the plan. Badr-BPakistan's second satellite, Badr-B, was an earth observation satellite and was launched on Dec 10, 2001, on a Zenit-2 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It was designed by Space Innovations Limited, a UK-based company. PakSat-1Paksat-1 was Pakistan's first geostationary satellite. It was originally known as Palapa C1, was launched in 1996 and had been designed to serve Indonesia. After an electronics failure, it was renamed Anatolia-1 and then renamed again to become Paksat-1 in 2002. It was originally manufactured by Boeing and uses the HS601 spacecraft design.