Cannes, November 11, 2015 - Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a contract with BTRC, (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) to build the telecommunications satellite, Bangabandhu, winning the contract against an international field of competitors. This satellite will narrow the digital divide, as it will take broadcasting and telecommunication services to rural areas and introduce profitable services, including direct-to-home services, across the country and over the region.As program prime contractor of this turnkey system, Thales Alenia Space is in charge of the design, production, testing and the delivery in orbit of the satellite.This satellite is based on the flight proven heritage of Thales Alenia Space with 81 Spacebus already ordered and more than 600 cumulated years in orbit. Built on the upgraded Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Bangabandhu will be fitted with 26 Ku-Band and 14 C-Band transponders. The satellite’s coverage zone encompasses the Bangladesh and the surrounding region. This system will offer capacity in Ku-Band over Bangladesh and its territorial waters of the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia; it will also provide capacity in C-Band over the whole region.Thales Alenia Space will also take charge of the ground segment, which will benefit of the SpaceOps Thales Alenia Space tools for the mission planning and monitoring. It includes two ground facility buildings gathering Satellite Control and Network Operations Center based on the SpaceGate Thales Alenia Space global solution. Spectra Engineers Ltd., Thales partner in Bangladesh, is in charge of the civil work of the ground facilities.To be launched in 2017, this Bangladesh's first satellite will be positioned at 119.1° East longitude.“Thales Alenia Space is proud to have been selected by the BTRC for the first iconic Bangladeshi Telecom satellite. This satellite identified with the famous Nation's father name, Bangabandhu, is a key milestones for the Bangladesh country telecommunication development and a fantastic support to the national economy growth and Asian region recognition. Thales Alenia Space is honored to be associated to this great expansion plan”, said Jean Loïc Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space."The contract for this telecommunications satellite signed with Thales Alenia Space, the key European player in space telecommunication, marks a major turning point in the history of Bangladesh, not only reducing the digital divide, but also generating business development and creating jobs," said Md Golam Razzaque, Bangabandhu Project Director of BTRC. "We hope to carry out the launch on the 46th anniversary of our country's Victory Day, which will be on December 16th , 2017 ”.
The contract, valued at $248 million, includes the construction of the 3,500-kilogram Bangabandhu-1, its launch — likely aboard a European Ariane 5 rocket — and the associated ground segment including satellite control and network operations centers. Loan guarantees have been provided by the French export credit agency, Coface....Bangladesh has had difficulty securing an orbital slot for its satellite and ultimately purchased rights to 119.1 degrees east from the international Intersputnik organization of Moscow. The 15-year, renewable lease is valued at about $27.5 million and was concluded in January.
Thales: Bangladesh Bangabandhu Ku-/C-band sat CDR OK, payload/platform mating in March. Thales-ordered SpaceX launch Dec 2017 [tight sched].
Although the satellite was expected to be launched on May 4, the date may be postponed to May 7, Telecom and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Wednesday.
The @SpaceX erector is vertical at Pad 39A. No Falcon 9.
QuoteThe @SpaceX erector is vertical at Pad 39A. No Falcon 9.https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/990273343478738944
And visual confirmation, April 29.https://www.instagram.com/p/BiKSJamFaCI/
FYI @SpaceX Falcon 9 is not out on 39 but TEL erector is parked at the base of the ramp outside the hangar.
SpaceX Bangabandhu-1 update: Block V #Falcon9 now on Eastern Range launch calendar for Monday, May 7. Launch hazard area around pad 39A in effect from 1400 to 1915 ET (1800 to 2315 UTC). ASDS.
The nest at 39A is still empty. #FalconHunter #Block5
QuoteFYI @SpaceX Falcon 9 is not out on 39 but TEL erector is parked at the base of the ramp outside the hangar.https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/991360602898665472
A trip to the Saturn V center reveals there is NOT a Block 5 at 39A yet. The door is open but the Falcon remains in the nest. You can go back to your lunch now. 🍕🍱
#SpaceX will be conducting a Static Fire Test of their Falcon 9 rocket at LC-39A on Friday May 4, 2018. The 3.5 second run of the Falcon 9 engines is scheduled to occur within an 8 hour test window, currently scheduled for 1200-2000 Eastern Time. 🚀
The Falcon 9 appears to have reached the top of the ramp at launch pad 39A but is still some way from its final position: spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/03/fal…`