Bangabandhu Satellite-1 A satellite (man-made) refers to an artificial body placed in orbit around the earth or on another planet in order to collect information or for communication purposes. The Bangabandhu Satellite is the first Bangladeshi geostationary communications satellite, which was launched on May 11, 2018. The satellite is named after the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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It has added a new dimension to our information and communicating technology sector. The satellite was designed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and its launch provider was SpaceX. The project was implemented by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and it was the first payload launched by a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. The satellite’s launch station was Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, USA and the ground control stations are in Betbunia & Gazipur in Bangladesh.
The satellite was expected to be located at the 119.1° East longitude geostationary slot which will cover all the SAARC countries as well Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkestan, and a part of Kazakhstan. With a total mass of 3700 kg and powered by 2 deployable solar arrays and batteries, the expected longevity of the satellite is 15 years.
After launching the satellite, Bangladesh began to receive a test signal from it on May 12, 2018. It is important to note that the satellite will provide Ku-band and C-band television broadcast and data relay services across Bangladesh and neighboring areas. This satellite will bring about massive development and an uninterrupted telecommunication system in Bangladesh especially in broadcasting, telecommunications, and internet service for which Bangladesh usually relies on other countries.
At present, Bangladesh is spending more than $14 million annually on satellite rent to ensure smooth connectivity of telecommunication service, television and radio broadcasting, and internet. It is expected that the expenses of the satellite would yield within seven years of its service.
Again, the country would earn $1 billion in 15 years by leasing out transponders and another $1.5 billion by selling other services to different countries. With this Bangabandhu Satellite, the communication system of Bangladesh will gather new momentum. The fields of telemedicine, e-learning, e-research, video conferencing, defense, and disaster management systems will also be significantly improved in Bangladesh owing to this satellite.
The launch of the Bangabandhu Satellite indicates the beginning of a new era in the history of Bangladesh. A country once considered poor and unworthy, is now reaching for the stars. This single event signifies the endless possibilities of the nation in the years to come.