Pakistan Space Agency (SUPARCO) to launch 3 sats in 3 years

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Moin Ansari

Pakistan\'s Space AgencyThis article on SUPARCO will be updated on a periodic basis

Pakistani satellites



Pakistan's Space Agency

Rockets Developed in Pakistan
Abdali. - short range ballistic missile - Two-stage missile. Indigenous Pakistani design, developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). First flown in January 1989, thought cancelled, but then flown in March 2003 and given an operational designation.
Ghauri. - intermediate range ballistic missile - Derivative of North Korean No Dong. First fired April, 1998. Payload is about 700 kg. Managed by A Q Khan Research Laboratories.
Ghaznavi. - - Flown in October 2003.
Hatf 1. - tactical ballistic missile - Indigenous Pakistani design, developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). Did not enter operational service. Tested in January 1989.
Shaheen 1. - intermediate range ballistic missile - Pakistani missile, apparently a license-assembled Chinese DF-15. Flown in October 2002, project managed by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
Shaheen 2. - sounding rocket -
Shaheen 3. - intermediate range ballistic missile - Pakistani indigenous long-range missile, designed by Pakistani scientists using Chinese technology. First flight March 9, 2004. 
Name Launched Retired Purpose
Rehbar-1 June 7, 1962   Explore the ionosphere
Rehbar-2 (Shehpar) June 9, 1962   Explore the ionosphere
BADR A January 1986 1987 Experimental communications satellite
BADR B December 10, 2001 Still in use Communication satellite
PAKSAT-1 (formerly Palapa C1) December 20, 2002 Still in use Communication satellite
PAKSAT-IR (200-300km ) 2010  
Paksat-Unanmed 2011 In Development Communication satellite
PAKSAT-Unnamed 2012 In Development Communication satellite
PAKSAT-Unanmed 2013    

Our man in Pakistan Mr. Yousaf clarifies that Badr A and Badr B are experimental satellites. Rehbar and Shehpar are the sounding rockets. Paksat was orignally a Turkish satellite (Palapa) which was purchased from Washington DC based HUGHES systems now part od GM. Paksat IR will completed in 2010 with state of the art weather and communication technology and will replace Paksat 1 which had limited functionality. Paksat 1 was originally purchased to secure the 38 degree East longitude geostationary orbit position for Pakistan. Three additional satellites are in the development stage in cooperation with China.

HISTORY OF SUPARCO:

        Chronology of Pakistani Missile Development

1961: Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is created to oversee all space research and development programs.  

Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the national space agency, was established in 1961 as a Committee and was granted the status of a Commission in 1981.

SUPARCO is mandated to conduct R&D in space science, space technology, and their peaceful applications in the country. It works towards developing indigenous capabilities in space technology and promoting space applications for socio-economic uplift of the country.

In 1961, on the advice of Prof. Abdus Salam, the then Scientific Adviser to the President of Pakistan, it was decided to set up a Committee dealing with space sciences. Consequently, a Space Sciences Research Wing of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was established through an Executive Order of the President of Pakistan dated 16 September 1961, which was addressed to Dr I H Usmani, the then Chairman PAEC. The programme of rocket firings was entrusted to Chairman PAEC. Initially the Space Sciences Research Wing had the following members:

Prof Abdus Salam, FRS - Chairman Dr I H Usmani, Chairman PAEC - Vice-Chairman
Mr Sibte Nabi Naqvi, Director, Pakistan Meteorological Department - Member
Dr Innas Ali, Member PAEC - Member

In September 1961, Mr Tariq Mustafa, Principal Engineer , PAEC ; Mr Salim Mehmud, Scientific Officer PAEC; Mr Sikandar Zaman, Assistant Engineer PAEC; Mr A Z Farooqi, Scientific Officer PAEC; and Mr M Rehmatullah, Regional Director, Pakistan Meteorological Department were sent to NASA for training in rocket launching.

1962: On 07 June 1962 at 1953 hours the two-stage rocket: Rehbar-I consisting of a Nike-Cajun combination (which was earlier developed by NASA) was successfully launched from Sonmiani Rocket Range. It carried a payload of 80 pounds of sodium and soared to about 130 km into the atmosphere. With the launching of Rehbar-I, Pakistan had the honour of becoming the third country in Asia and the tenth in the world to conduct such a launching. The other countries, which had, until then, already conducted launchings of this type were: USA, USSR, UK, France, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Japan and Israel. Rehbar-II was also successfully launched from Sonmiani Rocket Range on 09 June 1962.

The data received from Rehbar-I and Rehbar-II gave scientists information on wind shear and structure in the layers of the upper atmosphere extending beyond the stratosphere. The data collected also helped in the study of cloud formation, cyclones and weather over the Arabian Sea.

1962 June 7 - 14:45 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Nike-Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun Rehbar 1. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 126 km (78 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

1962 June 11 - 14:50 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Nike-Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun Rehbar 2. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

1964 March 18 - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. SUPARCO Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). References: 1716. Level: 1.

1964: A high-powered meeting was held on 25 July 1964 under the Chairmanship of the then President of Pakistan. A number of decisions were taken in that meeting including the placement of SUPARCO under the direct control of the President of Pakistan. A three-tier structure was thus created consisting of (a) the Governing Body; (b) the Executive Committee; and (c) the Technical Committee to take care of and run SUPARCO’s affairs. SUPARCO started functioning independent of PAEC with effect from 16 September 1964 with Dr I H Usmani looking after its affairs as its Co-Chairman.

 1966: The structure of SUPARCO was superseded by a Government of Pakistan Resolution dated 8 March 1966 whereby SUPARCO was constituted as a separate organisation under the administrative control of Scientific and Technological Research Division (S&TR), Government of Pakistan and a revised constitution for SUPARCO was adopted in the shape of “Rules of SUPARCO” issued by S&TR Division on 19 April 1967. Air Cdre W J M Turowicz was appointed as the first Executive Director of SUPARCO (Air Cdre Turowicz was a Polish national who served in the Royal Air Force in India in WW-II and after the war, he was among those Polish Air Force Pilots who opted for Pakistan’s nationality).

1966 January 12 - 12:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. SUPARCO 19/66 Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 58 km (36 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1966 January 26 - 12:18 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. SUPARCO 20/66 Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 61 km (37 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1966 February 16 - 13:36 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. SUPARCO 22/66 Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1966 February 16 - 04:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. SUPARCO 21/66 Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1967 May 3 - 14:29 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 15. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

1967 May 5 - 14:49 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Dragon. LV  onfiguration: Dragon D33?. Shahpar-1 Test mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 423 km (262 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

1967 May 7 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV  Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 16. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

 

1968 March 23 - 19:04 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 17. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

 

 

1968 March 29 - 19:20 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Dragon. LV Configuration: Dragon D34?.  Shahpar-2 Test mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 420 km (260 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

 

 

1968 April 3 - 05:38 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 18. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

 

1969 February 9 - 13:46 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 19. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 55 km (34 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.
1969 February 13 - 13:48 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure Rehbar 20. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 March 31 - 14:18 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Model: Centaure 2B. LV Configuration: Centaure 2B SUP. Rehnuma 1 Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi). References: 1592. Level: 1.

1969 June 20 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 59 km (36 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 July 16 - 14:34 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 July 30 - 14:45 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 August 15 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 September 10 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 63 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 October 22 - 14:10 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO-047/69. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 63 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 November 19 - 14:35 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO-048/69. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 November 20 - 13:50 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO-049/69. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 December 17 - 13:10 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO-050/69. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 63 km (39 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

1969 December 31 - 13:15 GMT - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Judi-Dart. LV Configuration: Judi-Dart SUPARCO-051/69. Aeronomy mission Agency: SUPARCO. Apogee: 75 km (46 mi). References: 1592. Level: 2.

 In 1970, after the retirement of Air Cdre Turowicz, Air Cdre K M Ahmed was appointed as SUPARCO’s second Executive Director who relieved his charge in 1976 to Mr Salim Mehmud, who remained Executive Director of SUPARCO until 15 December 1979 when he resigned the service of SUPARCO. Dr M Shafi Ahmed succeeded Mr Salim Mehmud and remained in office till 15 December 1980 when the President of Pakistan appointed Mr Salim Mehmud as Chief Executive Officer