Composition:5-Bangabandhu Satellite-1

Bangabandhu Satellite - 1:

Present age is the age of science and technology. Human civilization is going ahead rapidly on the wings of science and technology. Bangladesh is also trying to go with the world in this respect. Launching Bangabandhu Satellite-1 in the space is certainly a great step on the part of Bangladesh. Through sending the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to the orbit, Bangladesh has become the 57th country to launch a geostationary communication satellite.

The Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is the first Bangladeshi geostationary communication and broadcasting satellite. It was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and launched on 11 May 2018. The project is being implemented by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and was the first payload launched by a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket of SpaceX.

Bangladesh government formed a government-owned Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited,  BCSCL with the aim to operate the Bangabandhu Satellite-1. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 was launched from Kennedy Space Centre on Merrit Island, Florida, the USA and it utilizes ground control stations built by Thales Alenia Space with its partner Spectra in Betbunia and Gazipur. The satellite is based on the highly secure and reliable spacebus 4000 B2 platform and currently located at longitude 119.09 Degree East. It is named after the Father of the Nation-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The satellite is expected to play a great role in developing the socio-economic condition of our country. Experts and officials said the country's first geostationary communication satellite will primarily help in the expansion of Internet and telecommunication services in remote and rugged area which has still remained beyond the coverage.

It will also save foreign currency expenditure while the local TV channels huge viewership particularly in the Middle East countries are expected to be its main commercial user. On the other hand, the country can earn foreign currency by remaining the Bangabandhu Satellite -1 transponder to other countries

Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is a huge scientific and technological step on the part of Bangladesh. Bangladesh started a glorious chapter in the history with the launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1as it has become a proud member of the satellite club. Hopefully, this technology will take us a long way in our socio-economic development.