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Pakistan Space Program

Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is Pakistan’s national space agency and was established in 1961 as a committee and was granted the status of a Commission in 1981. SUPARCO is devoted to Research and Development work in Space Sciences and Space Technology and their applications for the peaceful uses of outer space. It works towards developing indigenous capabilities in space technology and to promote space applications for socio-economic uplift of the country.

Badr-1

Badr-1 satellite - PakistanSatellite Picture Badr-1 (Badr-A) was Pakistan's first indigenously developed satellite and was launched from the Xichang Launch Center, China on July 16, 1990 aboard a Chinese Long March 2E rocket. Badr-1 weighed 150 pounds. Originally designed for a circular orbit at 250-300 miles altitude, Badr-1 actually was inserted by the Long March rocket into an elliptical orbit of 127-615 miles. The satellite successfully completed its designed life.

SUPARCO started building the small amateur radio satellite in late 1986 with support from the Pakistan Amateur Radio Society. The satellite was named Badr inspired from the Urdu language word for 'new moon'. Badr-1 was planned to be launched on the US Space Shuttle, but the 1986 Challenger explosion and consequent delay in American flights changed the plan.

Badr-B

Pakistan’s second satellite was BADR-B. It was an Earth Observation Satellite and was launched on 10 December 2001 on a Zenit 2 rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. It was designed by Space Innovations Limited from the UK.

PakSat-1

Paksat 1 was Pakistan's first geostationary satellite. The satellite was originally known as Palapa C1 and was designed to serve Indonesia. After an electronics failure, it was renamed Anatolia 1 and then renamed again to Paksat 1 in 2002. It was originally manufactured by Boeing and used the

HS 601 spacecraft design. It was launched on February 1, 1996.

Paksat-1R Satellite

Paksat-1R satellite will replace the existing Paksat-1 in 2010. Pakistan's national space agency signed a consulting deal with Telesat in March 2007 for advice on the purchase, manufacture and launch of the Paksat-1R satellite. Under the agreement Telesat will help the Pakistani agency find a manufacturer and provide technical and commercial advice during the negotiation process. Telesat will also help oversee the construction of the new satellite and monitor the launch and in-orbit testing services.

Did you know?

China launched Pakistan's first satellite to orbit in 1990 because Pakistan had no Spaceport. However, Pakistan does have a space program. In the future may they develop their own Spaceport and launch vehicle.

Links:

Pakistan and Earth Observation Systems:

Paksat International:

Institute of Space Technology: Address - P.O. Box 2750, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

Space & Beyond: Pakistan's New Moon: by Anthony R. Curtis

Space Today Online: Space Launch Rocket Launch Sites Around the World

The Ballistic Missile Threat: India & Pakistan

CNS - Chronology of Pakistani Missile Development

Pakistani Missile Chronology

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