Pakistan's SLV/ Upcoming Satellites

[LKJ86]

 

[Development C&P]

 

[lmjiao]

 

[Shabi1]

It's not a capability or a ego issue, Pakistan can build it's own SLVs if it wants to and it certainly has the ability for it, but at the moment SUPARCO is not a commercial organization or does it have the aspirations to be one, so with availability of outsourcing options, makes sense for Pakistan to use Chinese SLVs. Once you think about commercial aspects then the development costs can be recovered from public/private sector clients.

When we have the economic room to invest and take part in risky capital intensive R&D then own SLVs will be viable and eventually a time will come for it.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

It's not a capability or a ego issue, Pakistan can build it's own SLVs if it wants to and it certainly has the ability for it, but at the moment SUPARCO is not a commercial organization or does it have the aspirations to be one, so with availability of outsourcing options, makes sense for Pakistan to use Chinese SLVs. Once you think about commercial aspects then the development costs can be recovered from public/private sector clients.

When we have the economic room to invest and take part in risky capital intensive R&D then own SLVs will be viable and eventually a time will come for it.

Granted, launching satellites is costly, especially if it's a one-off (e.g. schools, scientific organizations, etc) or infrequent (e.g. only every 10-12 years for a communications satellite).

But due to its strategic interests (of sustaining LEO and GEO assets for observation and communication, respectively), Pakistan will need to launch satellites relatively frequently.

For example, the PRSS-01 has a life of around 5-7 years, while the PakSat-1R is due to be out around 2023-2024.

Pakistan's vision is to have multiple satellites of each type (observation and communication) in orbit, and it's even studying the feasibility of a SATNAV network (PNSS), which will add to satellite production and launch needs as it has to keep replacing them.

Eventually, you could reach a 2-3 year launch cycle, at which point it'd be worthwhile to consider an SLV program. Of course, you'd want to get an SLV developed before you reach that point @The Deterrent

 

[IceCold]

Beautiful Sight.

 

[Karl]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) You say that PRSS-O1 has a life of around 5-7 years, but Pakistan is likely to require a constellation of E/O satellites in operation at any one time (maybe 3/4) for continuous coverage and redundancy (Israel has its Ofeq series plus its 'commercial' EROS series where it sells images to companies (and also uses for military applications as well), so Pak will have to launch a new E/O sat in the next 2/3 years to get the cycle going.

Similarly, Pakistan is leasing capacity at the moment from already in orbit Comm sats and has the dedicated Paksat-IR. In the near future it plans to supplement these so it has 2-4 in operation at any one time. Pakistan's goal is clear, it would like to manufacture these and any other SAR/PNSS satellites itself. Certainly for the lighter remote sensing sats indigenous launch is possible.


Agree on the 2/3 per year launch cycle. Sounds about right.


Launch

Granted, launching satellites is costly, especially if it's a one-off (e.g. schools, scientific organizations, etc) or infrequent (e.g. only every 10-12 years for a communications satellite).

But due to its strategic interests (of sustaining LEO and GEO assets for observation and communication, respectively), Pakistan will need to launch satellites relatively frequently.

For example, the PRSS-01 has a life of around 5-7 years, while the PakSat-1R is due to be out around 2023-2024.

Pakistan's vision is to have multiple satellites of each type (observation and communication) in orbit, and it's even studying the feasibility of a SATNAV network (PNSS), which will add to satellite production and launch needs as it has to keep replacing them.

Eventually, you could reach a 2-3 year launch cycle, at which point it'd be worthwhile to consider an SLV program. Of course, you'd want to get an SLV developed before you reach that point @The Deterrent

Here's the PRSS-1 satellite.

According to reports the satellite's specifications are as follows:

Satellite bus: CAST2000
Cameras resolution: 1 m (pan-chromatic) / 4 m (multi-spectral)
Camera swath width: >60 km
Designed life time: 7 years

(Probably contains Infrared LWIR and SWIR imagers as well.) BUT NO SAR

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) You say that PRSS-O1 has a life of around 5-7 years, but Pakistan is likely to require a constellation of E/O satellites in operation at any one time (maybe 3/4) for continuous coverage and redundancy (Israel has it's Ofeq series plus it's 'commercial' EROS series where it sells images to companies (and also uses for military applications as well), so Pak will have to launch a new E/O sat in the next 2/3 years to get the cycle going.

Similarly, Pakistan is leasing capacity at the moment from already in orbit Comm sats and has the dedicated Paksat-IR. In the near future it plans to supplement these so it has 2-4 in operation at any one time. Pakistan's goal is clear, it would like to manufacture these and any other SAR/PNSS satellites itself. Certainly for the lighter remote sensing sats indigenous launch is possible.


Agree on the 2/3 year launch cycle. Sounds about right.


Launch


Here's the PRSS-1 satellite.

According to reports the satellite's specifications are as follows:

Satellite bus: CAST2000
Cameras resolution: 1 m (pan-chromatic) / 4 m (multi-spectral)
Camera swath width: >60 km
Designed life time: 7 years

(Probably contains Infrared LWIR and SWIR images as well.) BUT NO SAR

So is SAR being staged for PRSS-02? Or will there be PRSS-01A?

 

[Karl]

So is SAR being staged for PRSS-02? Or will there be PRSS-01A?

NO. The SAR will be PRSS-S1. The PRSS-O2 will be another E/O (optical) satellite. This is why you should use an O instead of a zero (0). The O is for Optical. S= Synethetic Aperature Radar.

SAR satellite will likely be similar to China's Huanjing-1C http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hj-1c.htm or maybe payload from South Africa's Space Advisory Company, either DragonSAR (more likely) or FalconSAR (less likely) http://scs-space.com/satellites/dragonsar-2/. Turkey is currently developing Gokturk-3 SAR

and Argentina is developing
SAOCOM 1A, 1B
http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/saocom-1.htm

and Ukraine is developing Sich 3R http://www.yuzhnoye.com/en/technique/space-vehicles/earth-observation/sich-3-r/

So cooperation opportunities exist, but likely PRSS-S1 will be chinese on either CAST968B Bus (Huanjing-1C) or the newer CAST 3000B/CS-L3000B bus (Gaofen-3) .

Not sure any this is funded or when the SAR will fly. Maybe they will launch PRSS-O2 first then PRSS-S1? Depends on money and what technology China will give to Pak.

 

[Karl]

PRSS-1 and PakTes-1a cataloged in 588 x 622 km x 98.05 deg sun-sync orbit with 1015 local time descending node. One adapter in the same orbit, rocket stages in lower perigee orbit

 

[HAIDER]

Thank you China .. a revolution in education .

 

[LKJ86]

 

[Karl]

Pakistan’s class 100 satellite PAKTES-1B (Launch Scheduled late fall 2018) ???

Pakistan’s National Student Satellite-1 (PNSS-1) class 50kg (Launched Scheduled early
spring 2019) ?

 

[ghazi52]

Thank you China.

 

[Karl]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) Looks like PRSS-O2 will come before PRSS-S1. Likely because SAR technology is fairly new and China will be unwilling to share it until it itself moves on to a more advanced SAR system, then it will share older Gaofen-3 technology with Pakistan. China never shares its latest technology (no state does) in order to keep a technological edge.

Also, as per naming convention, we should stop referring to Pakistan Navigation Satellite System (PakNav) as PNSS. Instead just call it PakNav. PNSS is also the acronym for Pakistan National Student Satellite System, which will be a series of student satellites. PNSS-1, PNSS-2, PNSS-3 etc... So it will be very confusing. These systems are very different.

http://www.app.com.pk/govt-facilitate-development-satellites/

Govt to facilitate for development of satellites
May 27, 2018
30

Facebook

Twitter


ISLAMABAD, May 27 (APP):The government has planned to establish an indigenous facility for development of satellites in accordance with international space standards under its annual development plan for 2018-19.
The facility – Pakistan Space Centre will have capability to carry out manufacturing, testing, system level assembly, integration, launch and operations of various types of satellites.
As per Information and Communication Technology Annual Plan 2018-19, major thrust includes that Pakistan Multi-Mission Satellite (PakSat-MM1) will cater to demand of Direct-To-Home (DTH), High-Throughput Services (HTS)/Broadband Internet and Strategic SatCom.
The PC-II has already been approved and during next year, PC-I will be submitted for approval and subsequent execution of the project.
Moreover, feasibility study of Pakistan’s 2nd Optical Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-O2) will be completed. PRSS-O2 aims to launch a sub-meter resolution remote sensing satellite.
Feasibility and System Definition Study (FSDS) of Pakistan Navigation Satellite System (PakNav) will also be carried out. PakNav will enable Pakistan to have independent satellite navigation for both civilian and strategic purposes.
The government would focus on competing in international arena, and accelerating pace of e-government to facilitate citizens to avail public services.
The document said Rs 6,535 million have been earmarked for ICT sector under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)2018-19 which is aimed at improving capacity of IT industry by further providing infrastructure and facilities for startups and small IT businesses.
The other objective of allocation in ICT sector is to increase quality of skills and capacity of organizations to consistently deliver high quality services and products and raising their standard.
The other thrust include Cross-Border OFC system between China and Pakistan for international connectivity of voice and data traffic under aegis of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which will enable alternative route for international internet connectivity.
Development of Technology Parks to facilitate rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country, participation in 15 major international exhibitions to generate export business, and training of 3,500 professional and 500 executives from IT and ITeS industry in latest technologies in demand and business development/international marketing respectively would also be focused.
Some other domains include 70 more companies will be provided consultancy to attain certification of CMMI level-2,CMMI level-3, CMMI level-5 and ISO 27,001/ 20,000 international standards through Ministry of Information Technology’s project entitled “Enhancing IT Exports through Industry Support Programmes,” and placement of 3,000 ICT graduates in public and private sector organizations under Prime Minister’s ICT Internship Programme.