After a string of delays and rescheduling, the country's first space satellite Bangabandhu-1 is now expected to be launched on May 10.
US aerospace company SpaceX has informed the state-run Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) about the latest launching date following a successful testing on Friday last, BTRC officials told the FE.
"We are now expecting the satellite to be launched on May 10 at 4 PM Florida time if the weather and relevant other things remain favourable", said Project Director of Bangabandhu-1 Satellite Project Mohammad Mesbahuzzaman.
A high level delegation led by State Minister Tarana Halim was expected to leave Dhaka Monday to see the event for herself in Florida, USA.
The launching date of Bangabandhu-1 has already been deferred several times in the last few months.
The satellite with a capacity of 1,600 megahertz will have 40 transponders and the physical equipment of the space capsule that measures the capacity.
On October 21, 2015, the Cabinet Purchase Committee approved the project to buy the satellite system.
Later, the BTRC signed a deal involving Tk 20 billion (2,000 crore) with Thales Alenia Space to construct the first-ever satellite project.
On September 9, 2016, an agreement of 157 million Euro (equivalent to Tk 1,400 crore) with Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) was signed for financing the project.
Bangabandhu-I, to be launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral launching pad, would take eight days to reach its orbital slot at 119.1 degrees east.
Falcon 9, one of the SpaceX's finest launch vehicles will be used for Bangabandhu-1.
Bangladesh is currently meeting its satellite connectivity demand through renting a bandwidth from foreign operators and the country has to pay US$ 14 million a year for it.
Once the project is implemented, it will help save and earn foreign currency as the BangabandhuSattelite-1 will provide all kinds of telecommunications services, officials said.
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