Bangabandhu Satellite-1 set for testing

The Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is scheduled to leave the manufacturing station in France today (Thursday) for Cape Carnival Launch Pad in Florida, USA, reports UNB.

It is the first geostationary communications satellite of Bangladesh,

The satellite will leave Thales Alenia Space's plant in Cannes on March 29, said the manufacturer of the satellite in a Tweet massage.

"It will take-off from Nice Airport onboard the Antonov on March 29 (between 6 to 8 am local time). After a layover in Bostin on March 29, it will arrive in Cape on March 30," it said.

Contacted, Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Project Director Md Mesbahuzzaman said, "Within three-four days the authority will let us know the satellite launching schedule."

AmericaSpace, a daily US space news provider in a recent report said, "SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Bangabandhu 1 communications satellite for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The Bangabandhu Satellite, with a capacity of 1,600 megahertz, will have 40 transponders and the physical equipment of the space capsule that measures the capacity.

Half of the capacity will be reserved for the country while the rest will be rented out, said sources at the satellite project.