Bangabandhu Satellite-1 launch schedule after test results

Though the test results of Bangladesh's first satellite, Bangabandhu-1 was expected to be in hand by Saturday evening, the SpaceX authorities are yet to provide its results, said Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Dr Shahjahan Mahmood today.

Talking to UNB, he said, "We did not receive the results of the test yet as SpaceX was still analyzing the data. After they provide us the certificate of evaluation, we will seek date for launching."

"The test result will be known as soon as the analysis is completed," he said.

The SpaceX authorities have informed the telecommunication regulator that the data analysis was underway, the BTRC chief told UNB over phone on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the BTRC boss said that all the data of the testing have been sent to SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles.

Mesbahuzzaman, project director of Bangabandhu-1, told UNB that the testing has been done at 9 am (Bangladesh time) on May 5 and at 7.25 pm (Florida time) of May 4. Now, they are waiting for results.

He also said that if everything remains okay in the testing result, the SpaceX will fix the date for the satellite launching.

Earlier on Friday quoting Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, a top US chapter Awami League leader said that Bangladesh's first satellite, Bangabandhu-1, which was scheduled to start its journey towards the orbit on May 7 next as per the latest timeframe, is not ready yet for the launch.

US AL President Dr Siddiqur Rahman told UNB on Friday that US company SpaceX informed Joy that the Bangladeshi satellite could not be made ready for the launch.

Sources at SpaceX said the launching date will be fixed once all the preparations are completed after the test.

The launching of Bangabandhu-1 was deferred on Tuesday for technical reasons and unfavourable weather.

With the latest one, the launching schedule of the country's lone satellite has been deferred eight times.

The Bangabandhu Satellite with a capacity of 1,600 megahertz will have 40 transponders and the physical equipment of the space capsule that measures the capacity.

On October 21, 2015, the Cabinet Purchase Committee approved the project to buy the satellite system.

Later, BTRC signed a deal involving Tk 2,000 crore with Thales Alenia Space to construct the first-ever satellite project.

Bangladesh will be the 57th country when Bangabandhu-1 to be launched into the orbital slot on 119.1 degree east longitude which (slot) was bought from Russian satellite company 'Intersputnik' for US$ 28 million in January 2015.