It is hoped that the satellite will be successfully deployed in the allotted orbital slot and performs for 15 years.
KARACHI: Pakistan’s first communication satellite has been successfully launched by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, which also built the satellite for us. It is hoped that the satellite will be successfully deployed in the allotted orbital slot and performs as per its designed life of 15 years. In-house development and production of direct broadcast receivers led to the development of the dish antenna cottage industry in the 1980s in Pakistan. The indigenous development of BADR-1 and BADR-2 experimental satellites introduced to the personnel of Suparco (Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) to the design and fabrication of space-qualified electronics, computer hardware and software — all prerequisites for the success of operational space systems.
Having launched PAKSAT-1R, Suparco now needs to gear up for the in-house production of a back-up satellite since the possibility of post-launch problems (with PAKSAT-1R) cannot be ruled out.
An official press briefing talked about the launching of an earth observation satellite by our Chinese friends. A timely decision in this regard will go a long way in the implementation of the project. An earth observation satellite is placed in a low Earth polar orbit of around 1,000 kilometres and involves the capture, processing and transmission of extremely high data rates.
Dr Abdul Majid
Former chairman, Suparco
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2011.
