US invites visitors for Bangabandhu-1 launch

Kennedy Space Centre has invited visitors to witness the launching of Bangabandhu-1, Bangladesh's first commercial satellite, at its visitor complex tomorrow.

SpaceX will target Thursday, May 10 from 4:12pm to 6:22pm (local time Florida, US) for the launch of Bangabandhu-1, Kennedy Space Centre has said in a statement.

A Falcon 9 rocket will deliver Bangabandhu-1 to a geostationary transfer orbit. This is the first time SpaceX is launching the Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 rocket, it said.

Launch viewing opportunities for Bangabandhu-1 are available at Apollo/Saturn V Center, approximately 3.9 miles/6.27 kilometers from launch pad, and main visitor complex, approximately 7.5 miles/ 12 kilometers from launch pad, both included with daily admission.

BTV to telecast live Bangladesh's first satellite launch

Meanwhile, State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) has taken initiative to broadcast the launching of Bangabandhu-1, country's first commercial satellite, early Friday, reports UNB.

"Bangladesh Television will be telecasting the launching of the country's first and lone satellite Bangabandhu-1 using Live Streaming technology through an IPTV from Florida," SM Haroon-or-Rashid, director general of BTV told UNB today.

In association and technical assistance from the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the programme will be covered, the DG said.

This historic even can also be watched live on different YouTube channels as well as Facebook.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3niFzo5VLI&feature=share]

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Earlier on May 4, a Falcon 9 rocket was test-fired and after analysing the data collected from the test the final date has been fixed, said satellite project related officials.

After getting the fresh date from SpaceX, a high-powered government delegation flew for Florida yesterday evening to be a part of the launching programme.

Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who is now in the USA, would lead the delegation.

The 3.7-tonne satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, a France-based satellite company, was supposed to be launched in December. But the date has been deferred several times due to inclement weather and technical reasons.

Bangladesh is going to be the 57th country in space once Bangabandhu-1 is launched.

In November 2015, the BTRC signed a $248-million deal with Thales to manufacture and launch the satellite. Earlier in January the same year, BTRC bought a slot from Russian satellite company 'Intersputnik' for $28 million to launch the country's first satellite.

The project was initially worth Tk 2,967 crore, which was later revised down to Tk 2,765 crore. Of the amount, the HSBC Bank supplied €155 million or approximately over Tk 1,585 crore and the rest came from the government.

Talking about the advantages of being in the satellite club, project officials said it would immensely contribute to the country's digital advancement.

Currently, Bangladesh meets its demand for satellite connectivity by renting bandwidth from foreign operators which costs the country about $14 million a year. Once launched, Bangabandhu-1 will save the foreign currency expenditures.

It will also improve the Direct to Home (D2H) services, making people's access to worldwide TV entertainment faster and easier.

Bangabandhu-1 will have 40 transponders and three of them would be used for broadcasting TV channels.

The country's remote parts -- haors, coastal areas and deep-sea zones -- will also have impressive internet connectivity. It will also be helpful for distance learning, treatment and improvement of weather forecast facilities.

The satellite will be a game changer in rescue operations after natural disasters.