Pakistan successfully launches PAK SAT 1R

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Pakistan successfully launches PAK SAT 1R

Submitted by BZ on August 12, 2011 – 4:44 pm



China has launched a domestic communications satellite for Pakistan’s SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) at 16:15UTC on August 11 from the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Center, in Sichuan Province. The launch of Paksat-1R was conducted by the Long March 3B/E (Chang Zheng-3B/E) launch vehicle.

Video: China launches Pakistani Satellite PAK SAT 1R

Chinese Launch:

The Paksat-1R satellite is based on the DFH-4 platform, with a launch mass around 5,200 kg. The satellite will be positioned at 38.0 degrees East, replacing the Paksat-1 (23779 1996-006A), which was launched as Palapa-C on January 31, 1996, by an Atlas-IIAS (AC-126) from Cape Canaveral’s LC-36B launch complex.
Paksat-1R was manufactured by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), after being ordered in October 15th, 2008 – with a contract signed with the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). The PakSat-1R contract was the third communications satellite contract signed by China’s space industry with international customers. It is also China’s first satellite in-orbit delivery contract signed with an Asian customer.

The satellite will support all conventional and modern Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) applications, with a total of up to 30 transponders: 18 in Ku-band and 12 in C-band. To ensure high degree of reliability/availability of the system, two fully redundant Satellite Ground Control Stations (SGCS) were established in Karachi and Lahore, one to act as the Main and the other as Backup respectively.

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, ranking alongside international advanced satellite platforms.

The applications for the DFH-4 platform aren’t limited to high capacity broadcast communication satellites and can be used to tracking and data relay satellites, regional mobile communication satellites, etc.

The platform comprises propulsion module, service module and solar array. It has a payload capacity of 588 kg and an output power of 10.5 kW by the end of its lifetime. Its design lifetime is 15 years and its reliability by the end of its lifetime is more than 0.78.

Based on versatility, inheritance, expandability and promptness principles and mature technology, the platform will meet the needs of international and domestic large communication satellite markets.

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 features strong capabilities against hostile interference and jamming. The satellite’s power supply includes two 6m solar panels. The dimensions of the DFH-4 bus are 2.360 m x 2.100 m x 3.600 m.

Developed in the basis of the CZ-3A Chang Zheng-3A, the CZ-3B Chang Zheng-3B is the most powerful launch vehicle on the Chinese space launch fleet.

The CZ-3B features enlarged launch propellant tanks, better computer systems, a larger 4.2 meter diameter payload fairing and the addition of four strap-on boosters in the core stage which provide additional help in the first phase of the launch.

The rocket is capable of launching a 11.200 kg satellite to a low Earth orbit or a 5,100 kg cargo to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The rocket has a total length of 54.84 meters and a core diameter of 3.35 meters.

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After its first failed launch of the February 14, 1996 but ended in failure in what is now known has the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”, all the launches of the CZ-3B were successful, except the launch of Palapa-D on August 31st, 2009.

During that failure, the third stage failed to restart for the second burn and the satellite was left on a lower than planned orbit. Later, the apogee motor of the satellite was used for a maneuver to put the satellite on the geostationary orbit.

In recent years, the CZ-3B/E (Enhanced Version) launch vehicle was developed on the basis of CZ-3B, increasing the GTO capacity up to 5.500kg. The CZ-3B/E has nearly the same configurations with CZ-3B except its enlarged core stage and boosters. On May 14, 2007, the first flight of CZ-3B/E was performed successfully, accurately sending the NigcomSat-1 into pre-determined orbit.

With the GTO launch capability of 5.500kg, CZ-3B/E is dedicated for launching heavy GEO communications satellite.

This was the 144th successful Chinese orbital launch, the 142nd launch of a Chang Zheng launch vehicle, the sixth launch from Xi Chang in 2011, and the seventh orbital launch for China in 2011.

The Xi Chang Satellite Launch Centre is situated in the Sichuan Province, south-western China and is the country’s launch site for geosynchronous orbital launches.

Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the centre has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site. The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometres south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch.

Other facilities on the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting.

The first launch from Xi Chang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984, when the CZ-3 Chang Zheng-3 (CZ3-1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit.

August schedule:

Rumors have surfaced relating to launch of TG-1 TianGong-1, noting it may take place at the end of August.

After passing its production certification, Tiangong 1 arrived at the launch site via railway on June 29 to undergo its final testing. The CZ-2F Chang Zheng-2F launch vehicle was delivered on Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the morning of July 23.

At the end of the month, China plans to launch the first HY-2 Hai Yang-2 oceanographic satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. Rumours also point for a possible launch of the SJ-11 ShiJian 11-04 satellite from Jiuquan.

Finally, the launch of the Shiyan Weixing-4 and Chuang Xin-3 pair from the Jiuquan has been delayed to September.

Source: www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/china-debuts-partnership-pakistan-long-march-launches-paksat-1r/

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Crossing a Milestone

Submitted by Aurangzeb on August 14, 2011 – 4:32 pm



Pakistan crossed another milestone on Thursday when it successfully launched, with Chinese help, its first communications satellite on board China’s Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan province, thus joining those nations who own and operate communications satellites. The satellite called PAKSAT-1R, having a design life of 15 years, will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communications services across South and Central Asia, Far East, Eastern Europe and East Africa, besides extending their range to the entire Pakistan. Pakistan feels beholden to China for extending help, without any strings, in yet another coveted field. Pakistani engineers have been closely associated with their Chinese counterparts in the execution of this project to acquire the required expertise. Some of the project’s features developed at SUPERCO were also integrated into PAKSAT-1R.

This historic achievement made on a historic occasion, the anniversary of the first session of the Constituent Assembly in 1947, would, one hopes, regenerate the feeling that all is not lost, even among that section of society that is badly affected by the buffeting array of existentialist problems. Pakistan also has had the singular honour of producing the atomic bomb in the face of the strictest possible worldwide sanctions, and to silence those malevolent voices who fear that our nuclear arsenal could be snatched by militant Muslim groups, the Prime Minister at a National Assembly session, emphatically said once again, “I assure you that our nuclear programme is in safe hands and no covetous eye can be cast on it, as our armed forces are capable of protecting our nuclear assets and frontiers.” Not only that. He expressed his determination to boost the programme as well.

If the nation can take time off the pressing issues it faces and look at such a positive record of achievements, it would certainly be in a mood to celebrate, on two counts: one for the achievements themselves and the other for having a sincere friend like China, which has stood us in good stead in good times and bad. Listing its assistance would not be so easy, considering not only the different spheres in which it has been extended, but also the lasting benefit the projects executed with its help carry for the progress of the country and its security and defence needs. In every field, the Chinese ungrudgingly offered their know-how to enable us to use it on our own. Would that our rulers grasp the sterling value of strengthening our bonds with Beijing and getting away from the lure of the West!

Source: The Nation