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, 19th December, 20092009

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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

INTRODUCTION

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.

Organizational Structure

Chairman Member (Space Technology) Member (Space Electronics) Member (Space Application

Research) Member (Range and

Instrumentation) Member (Finance) Secretary

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 (TT&C) station

Space Application & Research Cell

Location of Facilities

Islamabad Satellite Ground Station Ionospheric Research

Station Geomagnetic

Observatory

Peshawar Space Application &

Research Center

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 2002: Leased HGS-3 satellite and relocated it as Paksat-1 2008: Initiated implementation of Paksat-1R satellite

Major Milestones Achieved

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)

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)

PAKISTAN’s SPACE PROGRAM

Elements of Pakistan’s Space Program

Satellite Development Program Remote Sensing & GIS Applications Space Science Core Technologies Development International Cooperation Infrastructure Development

Satellite Development Program

GEO Satellites – Paksat Series• Paksat-1 (Extension)• Paksat-1R• Paksat-MM1• Paksat-MM2• Paksat-2

Satellite Development Program

LEO Satellites• PRSS-O1• PRSS-S1• PRSS-O2• PRSS-S2• PRSS-O3• PRSS-S3

CURRENT SPACE PROJECTS

Current Space Projects

Paksat-1 Pakistan Communication Satellite

System (Paksat-1R) Remote Sensing Satellite System

(RSSS) Assembly Integration and Test Centre

(AITC)

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

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: C-Band: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, parts of Middle

East, eastern coastal countries of African continent and parts of Europe

Ku-Band: Ku-Band: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, UAE, Oman, Parts of Iran and Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Parts of China

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

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

SATELLITE RELATED R&D INFRASTRUCTURE

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

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)

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)

R&D Facilities25

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

Attitude and Orbital Control System (AOCS)

Center

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)

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

• The project was completed in three years time

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

Indigenous Capability Development

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Prototype Paksat-1R

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 Transpondero S-band Communication Subsystem

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 Kgo Volume: ≈ 36”(L) X 30” (W) X 15”(H)o Power Dissipation ≈ 300 Watt

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

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

TRENDS IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

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)

Composition of a Typical Satellite

Payload (either of the following):• Transponder• Optical Telescope/Camera• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)• Infrared Telescope• Radiometer• Atomic Clock

Some Example Satellites

SPOT-5 (imaging) Skynet 5 (mil satcom)

Some Example Satellites (Cont’d)

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GPS (navigation) Meteosat (weather)

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)

On-board Digital Multiplexing - Skyplex

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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

On-board Digital Multiplexing - Skyplex

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SkyplexNet architecture – examples of two-way services

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 flexibilityo Flexible channel to beam routingo Flexible frequency mappingo Flexibility in channel gaino Flexibility in channel beam propertieso Flexible air interface – including carrier width

Transparent digital processing offers flexibility at a significantly finer granularity than analogue solutions

Milsatcom Payloads43

Access to greater bandwidth – Ka band & frequency reuseFlexibility – Coverage, Power and BandwidthCommunication to handheld terminals via Higher power payloadsLeveraging Future Military Capability from Commercial Developments

Digital Video Broadcast to Handheld via Hybrid Satellite/Terrestrial Network44

content adaptation &aggregates TV programs into service bundles

hub that maps the service bundles tothe 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 theDVB-H based signal to the terminals inthe targeted IMT2000 frequency band;

Contains featuresneeded to receive & combine DVB-H based signals

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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

Mobile Satellite Terminal46

Mobile Digital Satellite News Gathering Systems (M-DSNG)

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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

POSSIBLE RESEARCH DIRECTIONs

Technologies and Engineering Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical/Electronics Engineering Communication System Engineering Chemical Engineering Systems Engineering Software Engineering Metallergical Engineering

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

CONCLUDING REMARKS

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 facilities and infrastructure required for the implementation of our Space/Satellite Program

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

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Thank You!Thank You!

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Q&AQ&A