Islamabad, August 27, 2010: Pakistan is planning to replace PAKSAT-1 with a new communication satellite PAKSAT-1R and it will be launched on August 14, 2011 expectedly.

The satellite will support all conventional and modern Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) applications, will use the geo-stationary orbit, and acquire a constant height of 36,000 km above the surface of earth crust.

Talking to APP, Manager PAKSAT (SUPARCO) Waseem-ul Hassan said the satellite will have a total of up to 30 transponders and lifetime of the satellite would be 15 years.

Giving some more details about the satellite, he said it would carry the communication payload that consists of Internet broadband, TV channels distributions, tele-medicine and tele-education. He mentioned that work on the project has been started and the measurements are taken to make it perfect and long-term loans are also made for this project.

Manager PAKSAT said as per the technology achievements in the region, Pakistan has to make fast and competitive progress in the technology of space sciences. Some more satellites would also be launched in the next years by Pakistan, he added. "It is a right time for Pakistan to make such progresses while the eyes of world are on us".

"In future such contributions, that make Pakistan in every field a proud one, will be made and always be made for not only to assist Pakistani nation but to give a big helping hand to whole humanity," he maintained.

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had awarded PAKSAT-1R contract to the China Great Wall Industry Cop (CGWIC) on October 15, 2008. Which was also China's first contract to send a satellite in orbit from with Asia.

Although the satellite is under development in China, officials from SUPARCO are confident that the satellite will be completed on time.

The project was aim to enhance the know how of young Pakistani Scientists, who had successfully developed the prototype of the satellite.