Bangabandhu-1
The Bangabandhu
Satellite-1 is the first Bangladeshi geostationary communications and
Broadcasting Satellite. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 was launched at 20:14 UTC on May 11, 2018,on a
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle at the Kennedy Space Center[1]. With the
launch of Bangabandhu-1, Bangladesh became the 57th country in the world and
fourth in South Asia -- after India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- to have its own
satellite in space.It will continue its journey from a geostationary orbit, often referred to as a
geosynchronous equatorial orbit(GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit 35,786
km (22,236 mi) above Earth's equator.
The Bangabandhu satellite, Bangladesh’s
first, received the green light at a cabinet meeting in 2015. BTRC signed a
loan deal worth Tk 20 billion with Thales Group to buy 'satellite systems.'[2]
Thales Alenia Space was selected as prime contractor
to provide turnkey systems, including design, production, testing services for
the BD-1 satellites, in November 2015. The scope of the contract also includes
the development of ground segment. Bangabandhu-1 launched from Kennedy Space
Center on Merritt Island, Florida, USA and utilizes ground control stations
built by Thales Alenia Space with its partner Spectra in Betbunia, and Gazipur.
Bangladesh Government formed a Government
owned Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited, BCSCL with the aim to
operate the Bangabandhu Satellite-1. The project is being implemented by
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) working hand-in-hand
with US based Space Partnership International, LLC. and was the first payload
launched by a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket of SpaceX.
Satellite's
position
The satellite is expected to be located at
the 119.1° East longitude geostationary slot. Now the satellite is located at
119.1°E longitude orbital position and provides broadcasting and
telecommunication services to rural areas in Bangladesh. It also supports
profitable services, including direct-to-home (DTH) services.
BS-I Footprint
Bangladesh will operate satellite from
119.1 degree East using a payload comprising 14 C-Band and 26 Ku-Band
transponders to deliver focused telecommunications coverage to Bangladesh. One
transponder is equivalent to 36 MHz. Ku-band will cover Bangladesh and its
territorial area of the Bay of Bengal, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri
Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines.
On the other hand, C-band will cover
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
and portions of Kazakhstan.[3]
Bangabandhu-1 satellite design and development
Thales Alenia Space was selected as prime
contractor to provide turnkey systems, including design, production, testing
services for the BD-1 satellites, in November 2015. The scope of the contract
also includes the development of ground segment.
BD-1 satellite’s communications module
integration work was carried out at Thales Alenia Space plant located at
Toulouse in France. The critical design review (CDR) of BD-1 satellite was
completed in January 2017. The service module for the satellite was
manufactured at Cannes and satellite mating was completed in March 2017.[4]
Thales Alenia Space Belgium, Thales Alenia
Space Italia and Thales Alenia Space España were also involved in the
development of the satellite and the ground components.
Based on Spacebus 4000B2 platform
developed by Thales Alenia Space, the BD-1 satellite has a launch mass of
3,500kg. It includes two deployable
solar arrays with batteries. The spacecraft has a designed lifespan of 15
years.
BD-I budget
Bangabandhu-I project was endorsed by the
government in May 2015, and it assigned the Thales Alenia by signing a US$
248-million deal in November same year.
Recognizing the importance of the
satellite launching preparatory activities,
BTRC formulated a project with the title “Preparatory functions and
Supervision in Launching a Communication and Broadcasting Satellite”-which was
then approved by the government on 26 January, 2012 with an estimated project
cost of Taka 8,681.51 lakh and with an implementation tenure from 01 July, 2011
to 30 June, 2015.
As the allotment process of orbital
position and relevant frequencies from ITU is very complex and Bangladesh had
no previous experience in satellite launching activities, the need of expert
consultant to assist in the primary activities was highly felt, and a USA based
consultancy firm Space Partnership International (SPI), was appointed under the
project on 29 March, 2012 following proper rules and regulation.[5]
Communication capabilities of BD-1 satellite
The BD-1 satellite is fitted with 26
Ku-Band and 14 C-Band transponders. The major applications of the spacecraft
include DTH, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) communications, backhaul and
trunking, network restoration, and disaster preparedness and relief.
The primary service area (PSA) of the
satellite is Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, while its secondary service
areas (SSA) include South East Asia, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
(MENA), as well as East Africa.
Purchasing of orbital slot for BD-1
Russia wasn't involved with the launch,
but rather with the location in the GEO belt where the satellite will
eventually be located once it completes its orbit raising. The apportioning of
those slots as well as other issues relating to use of radio spectrum and
frequency on the international level are managed/controlled via the ITU
(International Telecommunications Union) which is a UN agency. It basically
ensures that radio spectrum usage doesn't result in interference between
different countries. So, bangladesh purchased a slot from a Russian company for
15 years who had a slot (presumably acquired through Russia) in a more suitable
location.
Launching BD-1
It is the first payload to be launched
using the new Block 5 model of the rocket.
The satellite was originally slated to
launch May 10, 2018. However, the rocket carrying the payload triggered an
automatic abort as it entered internal power and control at T-58 seconds. Soon
after, the rocket launch was pushed back 24 hours, and it was finally launched
on May 11, 2018.[6]
Bangabandhu-1 had been previously
scheduled to fly on an Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA but Ariane was unable to meet
the contractual launch date, which enabled the launch to be switched to its
backup launcher, SpaceX. After launching the satellite, Bangladesh began to receive test signal
from it on May 12, 2018.
Satellite operation
Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX will lift the
3.5-metric tonne Bangabandhu-I communications satellite from the Cape Canaveral
launching pad and it will take eight days to reach its orbital slot.
The satellite will be controlled by two
ground stations, which will be used for primary and back-up site operations and
control centres. The survey for site selection for the construction of the
ground control stations has been completed.
Thales Alenia Space will provide tools for
the ground segment for the mission planning and space operations monitoring. It
will also build two ground facility buildings, which will house satellite
control and network operations centre. Spectra Engineers was contracted to
execute civil works of the ground facilities. Thales Alenia Space will look
after the satellite for the first three years including local officials after
it’s launched.
BD-1 satellite launch vehicle details
The satellite was launched on-board Falcon
9 version 1.2 rocket. The launch operations were conducted from the SpaceX
launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida, US.Falcon Heavy launch vehicle is being
developed by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), for heavy-lift space
launch missions. It is expected to become the world’s most powerful rocket in
service, when operational in 2015.The launch vehicle can carry satellites or
interplanetary spacecraft weighing more than 53t (117,000lb) to low Earth orbit
(LEO) and geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), which is more than twice the
capacity of the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle.
About 45 minutes after launch, the
satellite started sending signals to the SpaceX's three ground stations in the
US, Italy, and South Korea, then after
several times the controlling power had been hand overed to another authority.[7]
Ground control station
The satellite is controlled by two ground
stations, which are used for primary and back-up site operations and control
centres.
Thales Alenia Space provided tools for the
ground segment for the mission planning and space operations monitoring. It
also built two ground facility buildings, which
house satellite control and network operations centre.
Spectra Engineers was contracted to
execute civil works of the ground facilities.A ground station has been built in
Bangladesh to control the satellite at Gazipur. A backup ground station was
also built at Betbunia, Rangamati.
 |
| fig. :Gazipur ground station |
Importance
of BD-1
Faster broadcasting
system:-
Direct-to-Home services always provide
faster access to worldwide television entertainment.
Currently, there are only two companies
that have licence from the government. These are Beximco and Buyer Media
Limited.
Before, the operators conducted a monopoly
business. Now there will be a big change and easier, faster access to global TV
entertainment will be ensured.
The satellite will make video distribution
easier too. The broadcasters can effortlessly distribute their content to
intermediaries like cable TV network operators or re-broadcasters like DTH
operators.
The satellite will have VSAT private
networks consisting of voice, data, video and internet services to the banks,
corporate offices etc. The service will be delivered using Ku-Band in the
Bangladesh and the India Plus coverage regions and using C-Band beams,
according the BTRC.
Other services:-
In the event of unexpected disasters
hitting the country, telecommunication system in Bangladesh might be
unavailable. During such emergency situations, satellite network can play an
important role in ensuring uninterrupted telecommunication services in the
country.
The remote areas of the country like the
coastal area will have much better internet connectivity, thanks to the BS-1. BTRC
chairman Shahjahan Mahmood told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Bangabandhu Satellite
will help to make Bangladesh an advanced country. It would also speed up many
aspects of our daily life.”[8]
· In
addition to television channels, 40 types of services, including Internet
service providers, V-Sat and Wireless, will be available through this
satellite.
· When the
satellites are fully operational, all types of services, including the Ground
System of Geoscipronas Satellite System, will be available to provide
telecommunication and broadcasting services in some of the surrounding
countries
· There
will be a total of 40 transponders of Bangabandhu satellite. Of these 20
transponders will be kept for use in Bangladesh. The remaining 20 transponders
will be kept for sale to any foreign company.
· Currently,
television channels of the country are being operated with satellite rentals
from different countries including Singapore. For this, the expenditure is
approximately 125 crore taka The cost will be reduced when Bangabandhu
Satellite is launched. At the same time the country's money will remain in the
country.[9]There
is also the possibility of foreign currency earnings by renting satellite
waves.
· Bangabandhu-1
satellite will provide the connectivity to around 39,000 ships in the Bay and
the inland ports of the country in a year.Bangladesh Communication Satellite
Company Limited (BCSCL) signed a memorandum of understanding with the shipping
ministry to make the efforts a success. This agreement would help the vessels to
maintain uninterrupted communication with each other and prevent collisions,
enable access to internet and many more facilities, the secretary added[10]. Alongside the
vessels, the facilities can also be availed by the inland river ports, ferry
ghats and other riverside establishment.
Reference
1.
https://www.thedailystar.net/space-science/bangladesh-bangabandhu-1-satellite-launching- kennedy-space-centre-invites-visitors-1573690
Official SpaceX
Photos
END.
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