Paksat-MM1R
The Paksat-MM1R is a Pakistani communication satellite, which was launched on 30 May 2024. This mission was a joint effort of the Space and [Upper Atmosphere Research Commission] and the China Aerospace [Science and Technology Corporation]. The satellite was launched from China's Xichang [Satellite Launch Centre]. On 18 September 2024, Ministry of [Information Technology and Telecommunication|Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication] Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that the satellite had successfully completed testing and had become operational.
Naming
Before launch, the satellite was designated PakSAT-MM 1R, but at launch it was referred to as PakSAT-MM 1.The satellite was launched on a LM-3B launch vehicle, which was the 96th launch of the LM-3B launch vehicle and the 524th launch of the Long March family.
Details
The satellite was developed by China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China [Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASC]. It is based on the DFH-4E satellite platform with a liftoff mass of 5,400 kg, and equipped with 9 antennas and 48 transponders in C, Ku, Ka, and L bands. It can provide various services such as broadcasting, regional enhanced communications, high-throughput broadband and the satellite-based augmentation system services etc. The satellite will be positioned at 38.2° E orbit slot, covering the mainland and surrounding areas of Pakistan, parts of the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, East Africa, and parts of Europe, with a service life of 15 years.The total deliverable capacity of Ka-Band is 10 Gbit/s covering the whole of Pakistan. There is no steerable beam in Ka-HTS payload. Maximum throughput achievable on a single beam is approx. 1 Gbit/s. User beams are fixed and cannot be steered over any particular area. For PakSat-MM1 HTS, three Gateway beams have been designed over Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad with gateway beam of 0.08°. It is recommended to install two gateways. However, PakSat-MM1 HTS has been designed in such a way that one GW can handle all the traffic of 11 user beams.