Mission type | Communications |
---|---|
Operator | SUPARCO |
Mission duration | 15 years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Paksat-MM1R |
Spacecraft type | Communication satellite |
Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 30 May 2024 |
Launch site | Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China |
Entered service | August 2024 (expected) |
Transponders | |
Band | C, Ku, Ka and L Bands |
The Paksat-MM1 is Pakistan's second communication satellite, which was launched on 30 May 2024. [1] [2] This mission was a joint effort of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. [3] The satellite was launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. [4]
Before launch, the satellite was designated PakSAT-MM 1R, but at launch it was referred to as PakSAT-MM 1.
The satellite was launched on LM-3B launch vehicle, which was the 96th launch of the LM-3B launch vehicle and the 524th launch of the Long March family. [5]
The satellite was developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of CASC. It is based on the DFH-4E satellite platform with a liftoff mass of 5,400 kg, and equipped with 9 antennas and 48 transponders in C, Ku, Ka, and L bands. It can provide various services such as broadcasting, regional enhanced communications, high-throughput broadband and the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services etc. The satellite will be positioned at 38.2° E orbit slot, covering the mainland and surrounding areas of Pakistan, parts of the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, East Africa, and parts of Europe, with a service life of 15 years. [6]
Total deliverable capacity of Ka-Band is 10 Gbps covering whole Pakistan, there is no steerable beam in Ka-HTS payload. Maximum throughput achievable on a single beam is approx. 1 Gbps. User beams are fixed and cannot be steered over any particular area. For PakSat-MM1 HTS, three Gateway beams have been designed over Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad with gateway beam of 0.08°. It is recommended to install two gateways (one primary and other as back up). However, PakSat-MM1 HTS has been designed in such a way that one GW can handle all the traffic of 11 user beams. [7]
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