Pak to launch first indigenous communications satellite in 2011

Karachi, Apr.13 (ANI): Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) will launch the country's first indigenously developed communications satellite on August 14, 2011.

SUPARCO Director Dr. Mohammad Riaz Suddle revealed that the life span of the satellite would be 15 years, and would be launched at a longitude of 38 degrees and at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface.

He told the Dawn that the PAKSAT-1R would carry a communications payload to facilitate introduction of a range of new services, including broadband Internet, digital television distribution and broadcasting, remote and rural telephony, emergency communications, tele-education and tele-medicine.

SUPARCO and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) signed the contract for the proposed launch on October 15, 2008 in Beijing. The execution of the contract is progressing as scheduled, claimed Dr. Suddle.

He also confirmed that apart from PAKSAT-1R, a Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) would be launched in the near future. (ANI)