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.
Read More AT
Comments
Post a Comment