Badr was a series of satellites operated by Pakistan. The first satellite, Badr-1, was launched in July 1990. It was the first SUPARCO-engineered object to orbit the Earth. That launch took place on July 16, 1990, as part of the International Frequency Registration Bureau. The Urdu word "Badr" literally means "Full Moon," and its launch vehicle was the Chinese Long March 2E space rocket.[1]
| Mission type | Experimental |
|---|---|
| Operator | SUPARCO |
| COSPAR ID | 1990-059A |
| SATCAT no. | 20685 |
| Website | Badr-A |
| Mission duration | 30 days (planned) 35 days (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | SUPARCO |
| Launch mass | 52 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 July 1990, 00:40:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 2E |
| Launch site | Xichang, LA-2 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 20 August 1990 |
| Decay date | 8 December 1990 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Mission type | Earth observation satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | SUPARCO |
| COSPAR ID | 2001-056C |
| SATCAT no. | 26703 |
| Website | Badr B |
| Mission duration | 10 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | SUPARCO |
| Launch mass | 68 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 10 December 2001, 17:19:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Zenit-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonour, Site 45 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 2012 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 986 km |
| Apogee altitude | 1014 km |
| Inclination | 99.7° |
| Period | 105.0 minutes |
The Badr series consisted of two satellites. Both were developed by SUPARCO. Badr-1 successfully completed its designated life. Badr-B was the second spacecraft and the first Earth observation satellite launched by Pakistan. It was placed into Sun-synchronous orbit on December 10, 2001, at 5:19 PM UTC.[2]
The Badr program was decommissioned in 2012 after Badr-B completed its successful mission. The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite has replaced the Badr program since 2018.[3]
References
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- ^ "Development of Satellite Facilities". www.suparco.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Badr-B". SUPARCO's Directorate-General for the Public Relations. SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Pakistan Space Program". Aerospace Guide: Pakistan Space Programme. Aerospace Guide. 10 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2011.