Pakistan Launches its First Communication Satellite Paksat-1R
Finally Pakistan has launched its first communication satellite with the help of China.
Earlier it was expected that Pakistan will launch its satellite in second week of August, preferably on 14th of August but keeping in view the weather factors, the launch has taken place.
Paksat-1R is based on DFH-4 platform and will be positioned at 38.0 degrees East. Paksat-1R will replace Paksat-1 which was launched on January 31st, 1996. The DFH-4 (DongFangHong-4) platform is a large telecommunications satellite platform – a new generation of hardware based on high output power and communication capacity.
Paksat 1-R will provide range of services including broadband Internet, digital television broadcasting, remote and rural telephony, emergency communications, tele-education and tele-medicine and hosting of defense applications.
The satellite is equipped with three receiver antennas and two transmission antennas. It can support the transmission of 150-200 TV programs simultaneously to ground users using a 0.45m antenna device. The DFH-4 satellite also includes strong capabilities against hostile interference and jamming.
The satellite will be operated from SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) Satellite Ground Stations located in Lahore and Karachi.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said:
The successful launch is yet another shining illustration of the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China and has ushered in a new era of cooperation in space technology between the two countries. This also marks the next step in taking forward Pakistan’s space Programme “2040″.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khan said:
It is a symbol of Pakistan-China cooperation in the area of space technology. It is the first of the kind to be launched by China and Pakistan. Therefore it establishes a new platform, and marks a new beginning.
Satellite had its first failed launch on February 14, 1996 but this time the control room of the launch centre, in China, said the launch was successful and after 26 minutes, satellite was separated from its carrier rocket and entered geostationary.
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