Diaz Suddle

1. PAKISTAN’s SPACE
PROGRAM
– OPPORTUNITIES FOR
R&D
Dr. M. RIAZ SUDDLE (SI)
MEMBER (SPACE TECHNOLOGY WING),
SUPARCO
University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.
19th December, 2009

2. 2

3. Outline
 Introduction
 Pakistan’s Space Program
 Current Space Projects
 Satellite related R&D infrastructure
 Human Resource Development
 Trends in Satellite Communications
 Possible Research Directions
 Concluding Remarks

4. INTRODUCTION

5. Background
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere
Research Commission (SUPARCO),
the National Space Agency is mandated
to conduct R&D in space science, Space
Technology, and their peaceful applications in Pakistan. It works
towards developing indigenous capabilities in space technology
and promoting space applications for socio-economic uplift of
the country.

6. Organizational Structure
 Chairman
 Member (Space Technology)
 Member (Space Electronics)
 Member (Space Application
Research)
 Member (Range and
Instrumentation)
 Member (Finance)
 Secretary

7.  Karachi
 Headquarters
 Space Applications & Research Center
 Remote Sensing Applications
Directorate
 Space & Atmospheric Research
Directorate
 Space Science Section
 Karachi Ionospheric Station
 Geomagnetic Observatory
 Astronomy
 National Center for Remote Sensing and
Geoinformatics (NCRG)
 Satellite Research & Development
Center for Remote Sensing Satellite
 Multan
 Space & Atmospheric Research Station
 Lahore
 Satellite Research & Development
Center
for Communication Satellite
 Telemetry, Tracking and Command
Location of Facilities
 Islamabad
 Satellite Ground Station
 Ionospheric Research
Station
 Geomagnetic Observatory
 Peshawar
 Space Application &
Research Center

8.  1961: Established as a Committee
 1962: Launched Rehbar-I and Rehbar-II (two-stage
rockets)
 1981: Acquired the status of a Commission
 1989: Established SPOT/NOAA/Landsat Satellites
Receiving
Station near Islamabad
 1990: Launched its 1st experimental satellite BADR-1
 1994: Established VHF/UHF/S-Band satellite TT&C
station in
Lahore
 2001: Launched its 2nd experimental satellite BADR-B
Major Milestones Achieved

9. Badr-1
 Project Objectives
 To acquire know-how for indigenous development
of satellites and to create infrastructure for future
satellite development activities
 To test the performance of indigenously developed
satellite hardware in the space Environment
 To demonstrate Store-and-Forward type message communications
 To educate the country's academic and scientific community in the tracking
and use of low-earth-orbiting satellites
 Broad Design Parameters
 Size: ~482 mm (sphere)
 Mass: ~50 Kg
 Life time: 06 months (approx)
 Payload: Store and Forward Experiment (SAFE)
Launched on 16 July 1990 from a Chinese launcher (LM-2E)

10. Badr-B
 Project Objectives
• Development of low cost satellites and creating necessary
infrastructure for future satellite development activities
• Development of know-how and capability in the field of satellite
attitude control and stabilization
• Acquire know-how and technology for earth imaging using
CCD sensors
 Broad Design Parameters
• Size: 510mm x 510mm x 465mm (approx)
• Mass: ~70kg
• Lifetime: 2 years (approx)
• Payloads: CCD cameras, Compact Dosimeter, End of Charge Detector, Store &
• Forward Experiment (SAFE)
• Launched on 10 Dec 2001 from a Russian launcher (Zenit)
Launched on 10 Dec 2001 from a Russian launcher (Zenit)

11. PAKISTAN’s SPACE
PROGRAM

12. Elements of Pakistan’s Space
Program
 Satellite Development Program
 Remote Sensing & GIS Applications
 Space Science
 Core Technologies Development
 International Cooperation
 Infrastructure Development

13. Satellite Development Program
 GEO Satellites – Paksat Series
• Paksat-1 (Extension)
• Paksat-1R
• Paksat-MM1
• Paksat-MM2
• Paksat-2

14. Satellite Development Program
 LEO Satellites
• PRSS-O1
• PRSS-S1
• PRSS-O2
• PRSS-S2
• PRSS-O3
• PRSS-S3

15. CURRENT SPACE
PROJECTS

16. Current Space Projects
 Paksat-1
 Pakistan Communication Satellite System
(Paksat-1R)
 Remote Sensing Satellite System (RSSS)
 Assembly Integration and Test Centre (AITC)

17. Paksat-1
 Leased from Hughes (USA) in Dec 2002
 Has 34 transponders (24 Standard C, 6 Extended C and 4
Ku)
 Current usage about 22.93 TPE (36MHz)
 Communication Signal Monitoring
and Technical Support from SRDC Lhr
 Customers in Pakistan and across Middle East,
Africa, East South Asia and Europe

18. Paksat-1R Satellite
 Platform:
 CAST DFH-4
 3-axis stabilized
 ≈ 7 KW Power
 15 years service life
 Payload:
 12 C-band Transponders
 18 Ku-band Transponders
 Coverage/ Footprints:
 C-Band: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, parts of Middle East,
eastern coastal countries of African continent and parts of Europe
 Ku-Band: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh,
UAE, Oman, Parts of Iran and Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Parts of China

19. RSSS
 Approved in principle by the GoP
 Feasibility and System Definition Study conducted in
2007, recommending launch of one Optical and one
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite
 Launch of Optical Satellite in the 1st step, having ~2m
PAN and ~4m MS resolution and 5-7 yrs life
 Implementation will start after the funds are made
available

20. Assembly Integration and Test
Centre (AITC)
 To facilitate indigenous assembly, integration and
testing of various types of satellites of our national
needs, including:
• Telecommunication
• Optical Imaging
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
• Weather
• Navigation
• Early Warning
 Currently in planning phase

21. SATELLITE RELATED R&D
INFRASTRUCTURE

22.  Power System Lab
 On-Board Computer Lab
 Diplexer and Multiplexer Lab
 Amplifiers and Filters Lab
 Communication System Integration Lab
 Telemetry and Telecommand Lab
 Electronics Lab
 Digital Signal Processing Lab
 Attitude Orbit & Control System Lab
 Onboard Data Handling Lab
 Digital System Lab
 RF System Lab
 Imaging Payload Lab
 Spectrum Engineering Lab
Design and Development Labs

23.  Channel Coding Lab
 Source Coding Lab
 Embedded Systems Lab
 Spacecraft Power Systems Lab
 Mechanisms & MEMS Lab
 AOC Sensors Lab
 AOC Actuators Lab
 Satellite Structures Lab
 Thermal Control Lab
 Attitude & Orbit Control System Lab
 TCR Link Security Lab
 Spacecraft Propulsion & Pyro Techniques Lab
Design and Development Labs
(cont’d)

24.  Satellite Systems Engineering Lab
 Satellite Communications Lab
 Concurrent Engineering Lab
 Mission Planning and Design Lab
 ASIC & FPGA Lab
 TCR Lab
 Solar Array Lab
 BCR & BDR Lab
 PC&D Lab
 System Integration Lab
 Transponder Lab
 Antenna Lab
Design and Development Labs
(cont’d)

25. R&D Facilities
25
 Satellite Assembly Integration and Test (SAINT)
Facility
 Environmental Validation Testing (EVT) Facility
 Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) Facility
 SAINT Support Workshop (SSW)
 Remote Sensing Data Transmission (RSDT) Facility
 Satellite Bus Development (SBD) Facility
 Satellite Dynamic System Test (SDST) Facility

26. Indigenous Capability
Development
(cont’d)
 Industry approach:
• Prototype/Engineering Model (EM)
• Engineering Qualification Model (EQM)
• Qualification Model (QM)
• Flight Model (FM)/ Proto-Flight Model (PFM)

27. Indigenous Capability Development
(cont’d)
 Prototype Paksat-1R
• The project was aimed to enhance the know-how of young
scientists and engineers about communication satellite
engineering. Commercial components were used to keep the
cost low since the satellite will only be a functional lab model
• Prototype Paksat-1R is a communication satellite, which has
three C-band Transponders as the communication payload
• All the subsystems have been designed and developed
indigenously
• Integration and testing have also been performed

28. Indigenous Capability Development
(cont’d)
 Prototype Paksat-1R bus comprised the following subsystem:
• Computer (based on Intel 80188EB microprocessor)
• Power subsystem
• Telemetry subsystem
• Telecommand subsystem
• Attitude and Orbit Determination and Control subsystem
• S-band RF communication subsystem
• Thermal Control subsystem
• Satellite Structure
• Mechanisms for:
o Antenna Deployment
o Solar Array Deployment

29. Indigenous Capability
Development
29
Prototype Paksat-1R

30. Indigenous Capability
Development
 EQM Paksat-1R:
• Already developed sub-systems/units:
o On-Board Computer (OBC)
o Telemetry Subsystem (TM)
o Telecommand Subsystem (TC)
o C-band Transponder
o S-band Communication Subsystem

31. Indigenous Capability Development
 Customer furnished Instruments (CFIs)
• To design, develop / manufacture and integrate into
Paksat-1R satellite the following 04 electronic
equipment, as an experimental / auxiliary payload
for validating their designs and technology:
o Telemetry (TM)
o Tele-command (TC)
o On-Board Data Handling (OBDH)
o Power Conditioning & Distribution (PCD)
o Mass: ≈ 50 Kg
o Volume: ≈ 36”(L) X 30” (W) X 15”(H)
o Power Dissipation ≈ 300 Watt

32. HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT

33. Human Resource Development (HRD)
 To meet the huge requirements of the NSDP an ambitious and
rigorous HRD programme is being undertaken
 Main elements of the HRD program:
• MS/PhD (local & abroad)
• Short Trainings (local & abroad)
• Conferences, Seminar & Workshops
• On the Job Trainings (local & abroad)
• Hands on Trainings (in-house)
• Comprehensive KHTT embedded in Paksat-1R program
 Several hundred already trained and a very large number currently
undergoing training

34. TRENDS IN SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS

35. Composition of a Typical Satellite
 Platform:
• Structure Subsystem (SS)
• Thermal Subsystem (TS)
• Unified Propulsion Subsystem (UPS)
• Attitude Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS)
• On-Board Data Handling (OBDH)
Subsystem
• Telemetry Command & Ranging (TC&R)
Subsystem
• Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS)

36. Composition of a Typical Satellite
 Payload (either of the following):
• Transponder
• Optical Telescope/Camera
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
• Infrared Telescope
• Radiometer
• Atomic Clock

37. Some Example Satellites
SPOT-5 (imaging) Skynet 5 (mil satcom)

38. Some Example Satellites
(Cont’d)
38
GPS (navigation) Meteosat (weather)

39. Trends in Satellite Communications
 Communication Satellite Technology
• Modular and expandable subsystems/units/modules
• On-board Digital Multiplexing - Skyplex
• Flexible Payloads
• Milsatcom Payloads
 Satellite Communication Applications
• Digital Video Broadcast to Handheld via Hybrid
Satellite/Terrestrial Network
• IP on the move for Aircraft, Trains and Boats
• From 3G Mobile TV to Unlimited Mobile TV
 Satellite Communication Terminals
• Mobile Satellite Terminals
• Mobile Digital Satellite News Gathering Systems (M-DSNG)

40. On-board Digital Multiplexing - Skyplex
40
 Skyplex is a payload designed for
onboard digital multiplexing.
 The multiplexing facility provides
much more flexibility and lower
operating costs, because
broadcasters can uplink services
directly.
 Skyplex can receive video, audio
and data uplink signals from several
different geographic locations, and
multiplex them into a single DVB
downlink signal.
Skyplex Technology-based Communication System

41. On-board Digital Multiplexing - Skyplex
41
SkyplexNet architecture – examples of two-way services

42. Flexible Payloads
 Requirements:
 Match bandwidth and power resource to time varying traffic
demands
 Trend towards systems with larger numbers of narrow beams
 Requirement to support high level of frequency reuse within
frequency planning constraints
 Transparent digital processing offers a powerful solution which
provides the following aspects of flexibility
o Flexible channel to beam routing
o Flexible frequency mapping
o Flexibility in channel gain
o Flexibility in channel beam properties
o Flexible air interface – including carrier width
 Transparent digital processing offers flexibility at a significantly

43. Milsatcom Payloads
43
 Access to greater bandwidth – Ka band &
frequency reuse
 Flexibility – Coverage, Power and Bandwidth
 Communication to handheld terminals via
Higher power payloads
 Leveraging Future Military Capability from
Commercial Developments

44. Digital Video Broadcast to Handheld via
Hybrid Satellite/Terrestrial Network
44
content adaptation &
aggregates TV
programs into service
bundles
hub that maps the
service bundles to
the satellite carrier
resources
Geo-stationary satellites that
amplify and convert the DVB-H
based signals to the terminals in
the targeted IMT2000 frequency
band
Terrestrial repeaters
that broadcast the
DVB-H based signal
to the terminals in
the targeted IMT2000
frequency band;
Contains
features
needed to
receive &
combine
DVB-H based
signals

45. 45
 Satellite technology is used to backhaul a wireless
(WiFi or GSM) local loop; it allows the end user to
connect his own device (laptop, PDA or mobile
phone) to the Internet while traveling the world.
 Giving IP connectivity to trains, aircraft and vessels
also creates a way for transport operators either to
create a new revenue stream, or to use this facility
for their own needs.
 Such systems are typically based on a classical star
topology as deployed for fixed broadband services,
the space segment being used as transparent
repeaters.
IP on the move for Aircraft, Trains and
Boats

46. Mobile Satellite Terminal
46

47. Mobile Digital Satellite News Gathering
Systems (M-DSNG)
47
 This system offers a true on-the-move
communication for shoot and move applications,
e.g.
 Disaster
 Military operations
 M-DSNG enables
 Crew to transmit and receive programming while the
vehicle is in motion
 Increase productivity
 Access to cooperate LAN
 Access film libraries
 VIOP, data
 Shoot, edit, transmit story while on the move

48. POSSIBLE RESEARCH
DIRECTIONs

49. Technologies and Engineering Disciplines
 Aerospace Engineering
 Mechanical Engineering
 Electrical/Electronics Engineering
 Communication System Engineering
 Chemical Engineering
 Systems Engineering
 Software Engineering
 Metallergical Engineering

50. Relevant Specialist Fields &
Technologies
 Rechargeable Batteries
 Solar Cells and Solar Power Generation
 Microwave Systems
 Imaging and Inertial Sensors
and Systems
 Embedded Systems
 Fault Telerant Computer Systems
 Space Radiation
 Space Structures and Mechanisms
 Space Systems Engineering
 Thermal Control
 Antenna Systems
 Composite Materials
 Space Materials
 Propellants
 Polymers
 Racket Propulsion
 Remote Sensing and
GIS Technologies
 Control Systems
 Nanotechnology
 DSP

51. CONCLUDING REMARKS

52. Concluding Remarks
 Since its modest start in early 60s, Pakistan/
SUPARCO’s Space/Satellite Program has been
progressing in line with the resources made
available
 However, there has been a surge in the
development of Space Science & Technology
in Pakistan since early 2001
 Pakistan/SUPARCO has lately embarked on a
highly ambitious and challenging
Space/Satellite Program
 SUPARCO has been rapidly developing R&D

53. Concluding Remarks (Cont’d)
 SUPARCO offers excellent R&D opportunities
in the highly specialized field of Space
Technology
 SUPARCO requires a large number of talented
and highly enthusiastic young engineers to
work on its Space/Satellite Program

54. 54
Thank You!

55. 55
Q&A