Md Ali Raj: Following the successful deployment to geostationary orbit of the country’s first communications satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak confirmed that local groundstations in Gazipur and Betbunia have successfully received initial test signals.
SpaceX separated Bangabandhu-1 from its second stage booster, deploying it in geostationary orbit, some 33 minutes after the spectacular launch on Friday afternoon at the Florida coast, reports The Daily Star.
Palak also confirmed to UNB over phone that the satellite had been successfully deployed at Bangladesh’s specified orbit slot “within 36 minutes” of the launch.
The test signals were received by the groundstations after 6:25pm US Eastern Time (BST 4:25am).
It would take another 11 days for the satellite, built by European aerospace company Thales Alenia Space, to settle into its orbital slot, added Palak.
Bangabandhu-1 will be operated by Thales Alenia Space for the first year, as Bangladeshis are being trained to take complete control from the 3rd year onwards. It is expected to have a lifespan of 15 years.