Bangabandhu-1 might be launched to its orbital slot about half an hour before the scheduled time, said Md Saiful Islam, managing director of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited.
The first communication satellite of Bangladesh was planned to be launched from 4:12pm to 6:22pm (US local time) and now the revised time is around US local time 3:37 pm (1:37am Bangladesh local time), Islam said referring to the launching company SpaceX.
“The weather is very good in Florida now and that’s why they have brought it 35 minutes earlier,” said Islam.
Already Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister’s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy reached the Cape Carnival launching pad.
After the successful launch of the Bangabandhu-1, Bangladesh will become the 57th member of the exclusive club of satellite-owning countries.
“In the journey of building Digital Bangladesh, Bangabandhu-1 will open up a new digital chapter in the history of the country and will be a crucial tool for further success in the future,” said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, who is now on the pad.
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The satellite, a Tk 2,765.66 crore project, will also improve the Direct to Home (D2H) services, making people's access to worldwide TV entertainment faster and easier.
The country's remote parts -- haors, hilly part, coastal areas and deep-sea zones -- will also have impressive internet connectivity. It will also be helpful for distance learning, e-treatment, and disaster management facilities.
After thrown to the orbit, the 3.7-tone satellite will travel vertically up to 36,000km before making adjustments for orbit and it will take ten days for that.
The launch process has two phases. The first is the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and the second phase is Satellite in Orbit. The LEOP phase will take 10 days while the second will take 20 days.
After the satellite becomes active its control will shift to three ground stations in the US, Italy and Korea. The three stations will take control of the satellite and move it 300km to its assigned position (119.1 east longitudinal orbital slot).
It will take about 20 days to bring the satellite under complete control. Once it is completely operational, the control will be transferred to the ground stations in Bangladesh.
