KL to launch its own micro-satellite in 1997
KL to launch its own micro-satellite in 1997
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia has set up a space consortium to design, manufacture and launch a micro-satellite the size of a filing cabinet in 1997 under its newly-launched space program, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.
"MAXSTAR will undertake the micro-satellite program that will enable scientific research activities, in and from space, to be carried out," Mahathir said at Malaysia's national planetarium in the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur.
MAXSTAR (Malaysian Space and Telecommunications Research Consortium) comprises Binariang Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Malaysia's Space Science Studies Division (BAKSA), the Malaysian Institute of Micro-Electronics Systems (MIMOS) and the country's five universities.
Binariang is developing and operating Malaysia's first communications satellite called MEASAT, built by Hughes Space and Communications Inc, which is due for launching this Dec. 20 by the French company Arianespace.
Mahathir said the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will help develop satellite technology.
"As part of the MEASAT contracts, Arianespace and Hughes Space and Communications, Inc., have also agreed to actively participate in Malaysia's space program," he said.
Mahathir earlier witnessed MAXSTAR signing pacts with ISRO, Arianespace and Malaysia's Science University to design, make and launch the first micro-satellite in 1997 and another in 2000.
Binariang's MEASAT commercial manager Abdul Halim Hamid said MAXSTAR has allocated US$20 million for the micro-satellite program but details will only be finalized in July.
"We have to decide on the mission and configuration for the micro-satellite which will be launched by July 1997," he told reporters.
BAKSA director-general Mazlan Othman said Malaysia is going ahead with its ambitious space program as it wanted to build up indigenous capability in space science and technology.
"We have been passive users of Western space technology. We want to be enlightened users and our first step is to build up own indigenous capability," she told reporters.
"With help from ISRO and Arianespace, we are making a small 50 kilogram satellite, the size of a filing cabinet," Mazlan said.
She said Malaysia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to launch a micro-satellite although its neighbors have launched communication satellites earlier.
"The remarkable thing is that our micro-satellite will be designed and made by us with help from others," she said.
ISRO chairman K. Kasturi Rangan said it will provide its 40 kilogram Rohini-class micro-satellite as a model for the Malaysian micro-satellite program.
"We have successfully launched four Rohini satellites and it has the integrity that will form the base for Malaysia's program," he said.