Sri Lanka Space/Satellite Thread

[PCK]

Since Sri Lanka is now taking its first baby steps into the "space age" with the setting up of a soon-to-be space agency and acquiring satellite capability, it's time to open a specific thread for this purpose since unlike other industries, the space industry in Lanka is new and therefore we can now follow it from its infancy period.

[PCK]

SSTL Contracted to Establish Sri Lanka Space Agency


November 18, 2009 | Satellite Today | Staff Writer
[Satellite TODAY 11-18-09] The director general of the Sri Lankan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has contracted Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) to help the country develop its own space capability and its first communications satellite, SSTL announced Nov. 17.

SSTL will design and produce an Earth observation satellite for Sri Lanka. With the spacecraft in orbit, the country would become a member of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) with the ability to participate in international disaster relief support activities coordinated by the United Nations. SSTL will also advise the Sri Lankan government on the establishment of its national space program, which will be called Sri Lanka Space Agency (SLASA).

The program includes training, development and collaborative activities between the University of Surrey and Sri Lankan academic institutes, which aim to promote academic, industrial and socio-economic development.
Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

http://satellitetoday.com/st/topnews...ncy_32873.html

[PCK]

Sri Lanka to launch maiden satellite

Staff Writer | Wednesday, 23 Dec 2009

Sri Lanka plans to launch its maiden satellite soon and it will be named after internationally renowned physicist and visionary, late Sir Arthur C. Clarke who made Sri Lanka his home.

Director General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka(TRCSL) Priyantha Kariyapperuma said on Wednesday that Sri Lanka will soon establish the Sri Lanka Space Agency (SLSA) for the purpose and TRCSL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a British company to launch its first geostationary satellite.

"After obtaining cabinet approval, the TRCSL in November signed a MoU to acquire National Satellite Capabilities with Surrey Satellite Company Limited, a commercial entity of the University of Surrey, UK," Kariyapperuma said.

Surrey Satellite has built more than 30 space satellites -- some of them for Malaysia, South Korea and Nigeria.

Kariyapperuma said that there are around 150 Sri Lankans in the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and requests them to help make the Sri Lanka's Space Program a success.

He said that the cost of a geostationary satellite would range between 100 million to 150 million U.S. dollars.

Kariyapperuma said that Sri Lanka's first satellite would be a commercial venture and the private sector is invited to invest.

Other space agencies, notable from the United States, Japan and India, would be approached for technical expertise and collaboration.

"We are looking to launch two communication satellites. One is a lower earth orbit satellite used mainly for images. The other project would be to launch a geostationary communication satellite. Both these projects will run simultaneously," Kariyapperuma said.

He said that the two satellites will be used not only for communication purposes but also for disaster management, agriculture planning, irrigation planning, town/urban planning and coastal conservation.(PRW)


http://lankasun.com:8000/index.php?o...1125&Itemid=26

[PCK]

Sri Lanka invites Maxis, Telekom to invest in maiden satellite project

Published: Monday January 4, 2010 MYT 3:06:00 PM


NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka is inviting two top Malaysian teleco operators Maxis Communications Berhad and Telekom Malaysia to invest in their US$150 million (RM525 million) maiden satellite project.

Plans are in the pipeline to launch the nation's first geostationary satellite after it signed a deal with United Kingdombased Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited (SSTL) last December.

"We have invited Maxis (Communications) and Telekom Malaysia, both of which have already invested in Sri Lanka," Priyantha Kariyapperuma, directorgeneral of Sri Lanka's Telecom Regulatory Commission, told Bernama in telephone interview from Colombo.

"They have expressed interest and said they will invest if the project is commercially viable," he said.

Dialog, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Bhd (formerly known as TM International), is the top telecommunications service provider in Sri Lanka, with the largest mobile network.

Maxis became another major Malaysian player in the island after its parent company Usaha Tegas purchased a sizeable stake in Sri Lanka Telecom.

Kariyapperuma said the invitation was still in a preliminary stage and nothing constructive had emerged yet from the two companies.

"It is still in preliminary stage, we should be able to get more details later this year," he said.

The Sri Lankan government is in the process of setting up its space agency and plans to launch its first satellite, to be named after the famous British physicist Sri Arthur C. Clarke who made the island his home until his death. - Bernama


http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...7&sec=business

[PCK]

TRC approached by foreign firms to develop satellite

January 10, 2010


By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera

The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) has been approached by a US-based telecom firm to develop Sri Lanka’s communications satellite in which two Malaysian companies are also in the running, according to a TRC source.

“Intel Sat of USA (which established the first commercial global satellite communications system in 1965) through its commercial branch are interested in this project and they approached the TRC recently,” Priyantha Kariyapperuma, Director General TRC told the Business Times.

He said after the Presidential elections this month, the TRC will hold a press conference to publicise the call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to interested parties. He said that Malaysia’s Maxis Group satellite arm, Measat and Malysia’s Axiata were also invited by the TRC (informally) to send their EOI. “They are both present here and that is the reason we invited them,” he said. Maxis owns almost 40% in the national telecom provider, Sri Lanka Telecom and Axiata subsidiary Dialog Telecom is the country’s mobile telecom market leader.

Mr. Kariyapperuma reiterated that the EOI are open for anyone to apply for. “We invited Measat and Axiata, because they are present here, but it is open for all,” he said. He said currently the virtual ground station is being set up.

“We signed the MOU to allow us move forward in this regard by setting up the Sri Lanka Space Communications Company which will own the satellite assets,” he said.


http://sundaytimes.lk/100110/BusinessTimes/bt30.html

[banuthev]

Thanks for starting the thread PCK, I'll post the news/pictures soon (can't do it right now)

[Fusionist]

I think Sri Lanka should start looking at ideas of building its own launch pad. I think there will be a huge market for satellite lanches in the near future withevery country wanting its own satellites, thereby making satellite launching a lucrative business. Sri Lanka is close to the equator and has an advantage. Also Sri Lanka can afford to launch satellites a lot cheaper compared to western nations. So why not explore the idea ?

[TallBox]

I've thought about that idea too. Problem is that Sri Lanka is quite densely populated. You'd need a lot of real estate with an airport and seaport with good (wide) road access to the rest of the country. You'd also need some kind of expertise.

H. E. Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Weerawila Space Port


lol

[Lance1990]

I've seen a lot of things but never miley cyrus naked

[erathal]

Sri Lanka’s first space academy is to be built next year through an investment of US$ 20 million, through a joint venture between Supreme Satellite Private Limited Colombo and Great Wall Industry Corporation of China (CGWIC).

The new space academy is to be set up in a 30 acre land in the Koggala area to train Sri Lankans in space and satellite technology with the aim of promoting space science in the country.

“The mission is to inspire thousands of young people and encourage them to look to space for a career. It will use the Chinese world-class expertise in space science to further boost the size and quality of Sri Lanka’s science and engineering pool, providing the country with skilled workers who can boost the growth of our economy,” SupremeSAT Managing Director R.M. Manivannan said.

The academy will provide training in space technology and the handling of communication satellite operations initially in China, with an ultimate objective of training astronauts locally, according to Manivannan.

“Gone are the days when younger Sri Lankans searched for greener pastures overseas. We are rebuilding an economy which offers cutting edge technological sector opportunities such as our satellite venture. This will reverse the ‘brain drain’ which occurred in our nation for over 30 years,” he stated. Sri Lanka is poised to enter the global space race by launching its first-ever communication satellite within the next two years, through a joint venture between Supreme Satellite Private Limited Colombo and CGWIC, with an investment of US$ 320 million .

Currently, initial designing stages of this satellite have been completed in Beijing, China.

In less than two years, Sri Lanka would join an elite band of 44 countries by owning its first satellite, Manivannan stated.

“SupremeSAT for me is not just a satellite. It is a proud symbol of modern Sri Lanka that will connect the nation to the world with a strong signal that our nation is in par with any other country and we as its citizens have the ability to execute technologically advanced projects of this nature,” he said.

The company plans to sell satellite facilities to local telecommunication firms and other countries in the South Asian region after the launch of the Sri Lankan satellite, based on the DFH-4 (DongFangHong-4) satellite platform, manufactured by CGWIC, Manivannan said.

A satellite ground station is to be built in Koggala to oversee satellite operations.

The facility could be used by other countries in the region, he said.

Manivannan noted that the joint venture would also save local companies the expense of paying foreign satellite operators, whilst also bringing in foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

He added that the company would also be looking at catering to telecom operators in other South Asian countries such as the Maldives and Bhutan as well.

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