Bangabandhu-1 to reach orbit in three days

Bangabandhu-1, the first commercial satellite of the country, will reach its orbit within two to three days, said Bangabandhu-I project director Mohammad Mesbahuzzaman, reports UNB.

"After successful launching, the Bangabandhu-1 satellite needs 11 days for reaching its orbit and it'll reach its orbital slot on 119.1 degree on May 22 or May 23 as per the schedule," he said.

About the next activities of the satellite after reaching its orbit, Mesbah Uzzaman, said, "It'll take two to three months more for the satellite to become fully operational."

Bangladesh entered the elite Space Club of 57 nations with the launch of its first geostationary communications satellite, the Bangabandhu-1, into the orbit by US space transport company SpaceX on May 12.

The satellite was launched using the latest version of SpaceX's upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, the Block 5, from the historic Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral.

It was bought from Russian satellite company 'Intersputnik' for US$ 28 million in January 2015.