Pakistan to launch Remote Sensing Satellite in 2014

After the successful launch of communication satellite Paksat-IR, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) plans to launch high resolution Remote Sensing Satellite System (RSSS) in 2014 to meet the national and international user requirements in the field of satellite imagery.

The system is planned to be a progressive and sustainable programme. Initially, the commission planned to launch an optical satellite with payload of 2.5 meter PAN in 700 km sun-synchronous or bit by the end of current, which will be followed by a series of optical and SAR Satellites.

SUPARCO Secretary Arshad H Siraj said it would be helpful in exploiting the potentials of space technologies for natural resource surveying and environmental monitoring. The system will also be significant in executing application projects of national significance, transfer technology to users in public and private sectors as remote sensing along with its allied technologies has become an industry in itself.

He said the commission was the pioneer in introducing these technologies in Pakistan using the satellite remote sensing techniques and the system would also be helpful in improving agriculture of the country, water resources, environment and other such issues.

The SUPARCO is aimed at contributing to the socio-economic development of the country by demonstrating the potential of space technologies for natural resources surveying and environment monitoring, he added.

Pakistan entered the space age with the formal launching of a second hand purchased Paksat-I in January 2003.

“Since then, our scientists and engineers had been making endeavours to launch indigenous satellite and ensure country’s permanent presence in the space”.

In replying to a question, the SUPARCO secretary said under the vision 2040 of Pakistan’s Space programme, more satellites would be launched, which would help improve socio-economic condition of the country. As far as launch of spaceship is concerned, no such planning is in considerations and the focus is to launch more communication satellites, he maintained.

Pakistan’s first Communications Satellite PAKSAT-1R launched

Pakistan’s first Communications Satellite PAKSAT-1R, as a part of Pakistan’s Space Programme 2040, was launched on Thursday at 2117 hrs on board China’s Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.
Besides others, launch was witnessed by Secretary Defence Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali (R), Secretary Foreign Affairs,    Salman Bashir, Director General, Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (R) and Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Muhammad Masood Khan, said a press release issued here.
PAKSAT-1R has a total of 30 transponders, 12 in C-band and 18 in Ku-band.
The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the Geo-stationary orbit and it will replace the existing satellite PAKSAT-1.
PAKSAT-1R has a design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communication services across South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. This satellite now enables extending of communication services to all areas of Pakistan.
The National Command Authority (NCA) recently approved Pakistan’s Space Programme 2040 during its meeting at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) on 14 July 2011.
Earlier, the contract for the development of PAKSAT-1R was signed between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) in October 2008 during the visit of the President of Pakistan to China.
Pakistani engineers have worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite in China. Some experimental units developed at SUPARCO have also been integrated on the satellite for technology evaluation.
China and Pakistan have enjoyed more than 20 years of cooperation in Space Science, Technology and Applications.
The launch of Paksat-1R Satellite is a major milestone for both countries towards strengthening of this cooperation.
SUPARCO will continue its efforts for launching of other satellites including Remote Sensing Satellites, to ensure that the space technology applications fully contribute to socio-economic development and national security in Pakistan.

Pakistan to Launch Paksat-1R Satellite This Month

Pakistan is all set to launch its Paksat-1R satellite in next week or so in collaboration with China.

Paksat-1R is successor of Paksat-1 and will replace it as Paksat-1 is successfully going to complete its life, this year.

This Pakistani geostationary and advanced communication satellite will be launched from Chinese satellite launching site in second week of August, based on weather conditions.

Paksat-1R happens to be 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.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan unveiling the launch schedule, said:

Paksat-1R is going to be a new symbolic development in Pakistan-China relations, as it will broaden the horizons of cooperation between the two countries. It will revolutionize the use of broadband Internet, digital television broadcasting and mobile telephony. It will spur our economy, strengthen the education and health sectors and help us with disaster preparedness and response.

We are now looking at cooperation in remote sensing satellites. It is a long term project with many civilian uses. A remote sensing satellite will cover areas like agriculture, oceanography, disaster management and mitigation, crop monitoring, earth observation, water resources management, weather forecasting and urban planning. Such an application will have a direct positive impact on Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

Khan said that Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is establishing the necessary space technology infrastructure in Pakistan and we would want to develop our spaceflight programme with cooperation of China.