Badr-B

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Badr-B
SUPARCO
COSPAR ID2001-056C Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.27003
Websitewww.suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp
Mission duration2 years
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer
SUPARCO

Space Innovations Limited
Rutherford Laboratory
Launch mass68.5 kilograms (151 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date10 December 2001, 17:18:57 (2001-12-10UTC17:18:57Z) UTC
RocketZenit-2
Launch siteBaikonur 45/1
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Eccentricity0.0018975332
Perigee altitude986.0 kilometres (612.7 mi)
Apogee altitude1,014.0 kilometres (630.1 mi)
Inclination99.7 degrees
Period105.0 minutes
Epoch10 December 2001, 12:19:00 UTC[1]

The Badr-B (

microsatellite, weighing approximately 70 kg, and contained a computerized system to conduct studies on gravity gradients. Badr-B was a research satellite to explore the upper atmosphere and the near space, carrying a large array of instruments for geophysical research.[2]

The Badr-B payload was equipped with several CCD cameras, compact dosimeter, a telemetry system, charge detector and a temperature control unit.[2] It is intended to complete and update the Islamabad Mission Control Center (IMCC) and to test the remote sensing CCD instruments.[2]

Launch history

The Badr-B project was launched by SUPARCO in 1992, following the success of the

Tilla Launch Complex but it was objected as the country had no launch facility at that time.[7] The CCD cameras were developed by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) who took the interest in the development of the Badr-B in 1995.[4]

Badr-B was developed in 1996 but the delay of Russian space-rocket put the satellite on hold for more than 4 years.

Sonmiani Launch Complex using Ghauri-1 as the transportation vehicle which was denied by the government at that time.[9] In 2001, the Air Force Strategic Command flew the Badr-B to Kazakhstan where it was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 10 December 2001 abroad a Ukrainian Zenit-2 rocket.[4]

Design

The economic cost of the Badr-B is not publicly known but it is estimated to be more costly than the first satellite, Badr-I.[8] For its design, the Badar-B is far more complex and sophisticated than the first satellite.[7] The external body of the Badr-B is made of Space grade Aluminium alloy with a total mass of 70 kg.[7] Badr-B was launched in a Sun-synchronous orbit of 1050 km with an earth orbital period of 106 minutes.[7] Badr-B is a cube with side dimensions of 510 mm x 510 mm x 465 mm and a gravity gradient vector system to stabilize the satellite to its mission control centre.[7] A typical orbital and terminal pass over to country's space orbit entry would last between 10 and 15 minutes.[7]

Badr-B internal structure was made of space qualified aluminum

nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries stored power for use during the eclipse periods.[10] Earth pointing single axis stabilization was achieved by the use of a 6 m gravity gradient boom with a trip mass of 4 kg.[10]

Launch plans and site selections

The SUPARCO set its deadline to launch the satellite in 1994 but, due to the satellite being upgraded time passed and SUPARCO lost the space

China and Russia at the lowest rate.[8] In 1998, following the restrictions applied on Pakistan after it had conducted atomic tests (See Chagai-I and Chagai-II), SUPARCO was unable to launch the satellite, therefore putting the satellite in storage.[7]

Delaying of the satellite's launch programme further frustrated the

Sonmiani Launch Complex.[9] However, then-CMLA General Pervez Musharraf denied the request of Khan.[9]

In 2001, the

Atomic bombs, the missiles can easily carry a payload of an 80 kg satellite into the sky".[9] Astrophysicist Shahid Kureshi also argued that [IRBM] missiles have very robust and effective electronics and computer system, the [SLV]s used the similar technology.[11] Taking part in this discussion, Nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy believed that "If we [Pakistan] can launch a missile up to a range of 1,500 km, why not build an [SLV] that can launch low-atmosphere satellites?".[11]

Abdul Majid, an astrophysicist, countered the pressure in a media interview in 1999 given to Dawn Newspapers, and in his own words, Majid summed up that, "with Meteor-3M (a Soviet satellite), other four satellites one each from [Pakistan], Malaysia, Morocco and the United States are to be mounted on the bigger Russian rocket. It was only the Pakistan's Badr-B satellite which had met the deadline set by the Russians. The deadline was in April. All the other satellites failed to meet the deadline".[7]

Launch and mission

After receiving criticism from the scientific society, the SUPARCO succeeded in a talks held with

Major-General Raza Hussain arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to witness the launch.[12] At 17:18UTC, the Badr-B was launched along with Meteor-3M with an ascending node time of about 09:15 [4][13]

Experiments

The Badr-B conduct four major on-board experiments, including taking the snap shots of Earth images, and data storage and forwarding to its mission control center.

Solar winds.[10] Expected results were sent to its mission control center in Islamabad.[10]

Achievements

Overall, the Badr-B was an ambitious project that was intended to learn and developed the low-cost EOS satellites, and to build the infrastructure for larger satellites.[10] The Badr-B also gave the scientists to understand the usage of technology for Earth imaging by using the CCD sensors; it also gave provided the scientists to enhance their studies conducted on how the solar flare effected the environment of Earth.[10] The Badr-B stimulated the research on astrophysics and astroparticle physics that encourage the scientific community to continue their research on peaceful uses of space.[10]

However, its achievements was undermined after SUPARCO had lost the orbital slot in four consecutive years

PRSS-O1, which was launched in 2018.[14]

References

  1. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Badr-B". SUPARCO's Directorate-General for the Public Relations. SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  3. ^ SUPARCO, Space Research Commission. "History". SUPARCO. Electronic Government Agency. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Gunter, Wilhelm. "Space Race:Badr-B". Whilhelm Gunter. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter D. "Badr B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Krebs, Gunter D. "Badr A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Staff Reporter (26 June 1999). "Pakistan's second satellite ready for launch". Dawn News Headlines. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Mumtaz, Ashraf (11 January 1996). "Pakistan to launch second experimental satellite". Dawn Media Group. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d Khan, DEng (Metallurgical Engineering), Professor Abdul Qadeer (2010). Sehar Honay Tak§ Pakistan's space spinoff. Islamabad: Printwise Publications. pp. 41–98.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k SUPARCO. "Badr-B: Configurations". SUPARCO. Space Research Commission. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Reza, Sa`adia (December 1, 2011). "Pakistan risks losing orbital slot if satellite not launched". Dawn News Group of Media. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  12. ^ a b Staff Reporter (15 December 2001). "Satellite Badar-II launched". Wireservice of Dawn. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  13. ^ a b Space daily (December 10, 2011). "Pakistan To Launch Satellite From Russian Pad". Space daily news. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  14. ^ a b SUPARCO. "Remote Sensing Satellites". SUPARCO. SUPARCO of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.

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