View source for Engineering:Badr-B

{{Short description|Pakistani Earth-observation satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Badr-B
| image                 = Zenit-2 rocket ready for launch.jpg
| image_caption         = Badr-B atop a [[Engineering:Zenit-2|Zenit-2]] rocket, before the launch

| mission_type          = Earth Observation Satellite<br/>[[Earth:Earth science|Earth science]]
| operator              = [[Astronomy:Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission|SUPARCO]]
| website               = {{url|http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp}}
| COSPAR_ID             = 2001-056C 
| SATCAT                = 27003
| mission_duration      = 2&nbsp;years

| spacecraft_bus        = 
| manufacturer          = Space Innovations Limited<br/>[[Organization:Rutherford Appleton Laboratory|Rutherford Laboratory]]<br/>Instrumentation Laboratory<br/>DESTO
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = {{convert|68.5|kg|lb}}
| power                 =

| launch_date           = {{start-date|10 December 2001, 17:18:57|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket         = [[Engineering:Zenit-2|Zenit-2]]
| launch_site           = Baikonur 45/1
| launch_contractor     =

| disposal_type         = 
| deactivated           = <!-- {{end-date|[insert date here]}} -->

| orbit_epoch           = 10 December 2001, 12:19:00&nbsp;UTC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-056C|title=NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details|website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov|access-date=2018-05-01}}</ref>
| orbit_reference       = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|Sun-synchronous]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|986.0|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|1014.0|km|mi}}
| orbit_inclination     = 99.7&nbsp;degrees
| orbit_eccentricity    = 0.0018975332
| orbit_period          = 105.0&nbsp;minutes
| apsis                 = gee
}}

The '''Badr-B''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|بدر-۲}}}}; also known as '''Badr-II''', meaning ''Full Moon-2'') is the second [[Engineering:Spacecraft|spacecraft]] and the first [[Astronomy:Earth observation satellite|Earth observation satellite]] launched into [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Earth orbit]] on 10 December 2001 at 09:15 by the [[Astronomy:Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission|SUPARCO]] — Pakistan's national space agency.<ref name="SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan">{{cite web|url=http://suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp?badrblinksid=1|title=Badr-B|work=SUPARCO's Directorate-General for the Public Relations|publisher=SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan|access-date=February 3, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703085935/http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp?badrblinksid=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>  ''Badr-B'' is a [[Engineering:Microsatellite (spaceflight)|microsatellite]], with a mass of ~70 [[Kilogram|kg]], and contained the computerized system to conduct the studies on the [[Physics:Gravity gradiometry|gravity gradient]]. ''Badr-B'' is a research satellite to explore the upper atmosphere and the near space, and carried a large array of instruments for [[Physics:Geophysics|geophysical]] research.<ref name="SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan"/>

The ''Badr-B'' payload was equipped with several [[Engineering:Charge-coupled device|CCD cameras]], compact dosimeter, a telemetry system, charge detector and a temperature control unit.<ref name="SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan"/> It is intended to complete and update the [[Organization:SUPARCO Satellite Ground Station|Islamabad Mission Control Center]] (IMCC), and to test the [[Earth:Remote sensing|remote sensing]] CCD instruments.<ref name="SUPARCO and the Government of Pakistan"/>

==Launch history==
The ''Badr-B'' project was launched by Suparco in 1992, following the success of the ''[[Engineering:Badr-1|Badr-I]]'' in 1990.<ref name="Electronic Government Agency">{{cite web|last1=SUPARCO |first1=Space Research Commission |title=History |url=http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/history.asp |work=SUPARCO |publisher=Electronic Government Agency |accessdate=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417192331/http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/history.asp |archivedate=17 April 2008 }}</ref>  The programme was funded by Science Ministry and the construction of the programme was completed in Instrumentation Laboratories in Karachi. The United Kingdom's Space Innovations Limited, plc (SIL) also joined this programme in 1993 as it had constructed the instrumentation of this satellite.<ref name="Wilhelm Gunter"/> The ''Badr-B'' satellite mass was about 30% larger than the ''Badr-I''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Krebs|first=Gunter D.|title=Badr B|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=February 6, 2023|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/badr-b.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Krebs|first=Gunter D.|title=Badr A|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=February 6, 2023|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/badr-a.htm}}</ref> Most of the equipment was developed at the DESTO and the spacecraft designing took place in Instrumentation Laboratories in Karachi. Space Innovations Limited took contributed technical assistance required for assembling the ''Badr-B''.<ref name="Wilhelm Gunter"/> A [[Engineering:Mission control center|Mission control center]] was established at Islamabad where several [[Supercomputer|supercomputer]]s and its systems were installed by Space Innovations Limited. In 1995, a computer system and the system software was designed and installed by Pakistan Software Export Systems (PSES) while COMSATS helped installing the large computer screen at the Islamabad mission control center.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/> Overall, the work on ''Badr-B'' was completed in 1996 by Suparco and it was originally planned to launch from Tilla Launch Complex but it was objected as the country had no launch facility at that time.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/>  The CCD cameras were developed by the [[Organization:Rutherford Appleton Laboratory|Rutherford Appleton Laboratory]] (RAL) who took the interest in the development of the ''Badr-B'' in 1995.<ref name="Wilhelm Gunter">{{cite web|last1=Gunter|first1=Wilhelm|title=Space Race:Badr-B|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/badr-b.htm|publisher=Whilhelm Gunter|accessdate=9 November 2011}}</ref>

''Badr-B'' was developed in 1996 but the delay of Russian space-rocket put the satellite on hold for more than 4 years.<ref name="Dawn Media Group">{{cite news|last1=Mumtaz|first1=Ashraf|title=Pakistan to launch second experimental satellite|url=http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1996/11Jan96.html#paki|accessdate=10 November 2011|newspaper=Dawn Media Group|date=11 January 1996}}</ref>  [[Biography:Abdul Qadeer Khan|Abdul Qadeer Khan]] unsuccessfully attempted to launch the satellite from the Sonmiani Launch Complex using Ghauri-1 as the transportation vehicle which was denied by the government at that time.<ref name="Printwise Publications">{{cite book|last1=Khan, DEng (Metallurgical Engineering)|first1=Professor Abdul Qadeer|title=Sehar Honay Tak§ Pakistan's space spinoff|year=2010|publisher=Printwise Publications|location=Islamabad|pages=41–98}}</ref>  In 2001, the Air Force Strategic Command flew the ''Badr-B'' to Kazakhstan where it was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 10 December 2001 abroad a {{wipe|Ukraine}} [[Engineering:Zenit-2|Zenit-2]] [[Engineering:Rocket|rocket]].<ref name="Wilhelm Gunter"/>

==Design==

The economic cost of the ''Badr-B'' is not publicly known but it is estimated to be more costly than the first satellite, ''[[Engineering:Badr-1|Badr-I]]''.<ref name="Dawn Media Group"/> For its design, the ''Badar-B'' is far more complex and sophisticated than the first satellite.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/> The external body of the ''Badr-B'' is made of [[Chemistry:Aluminium|Space grade Aluminium alloy]] with a total mass of 70&nbsp;kg.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/>  ''Badr-B'' was launched in a [[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|Sun-synchronous orbit]] of 1050&nbsp;km with an earth orbital period of 106 minutes.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/> ''Badr-B'' is a cube with side dimensions of 510&nbsp;mm x 510&nbsp;mm x 465&nbsp;mm and a gravity gradient vector system to stabilize the satellite to its mission control centre.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/> A typical orbital and terminal pass over to country's space orbit entry would last between 10 and 15 minutes.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/>

''Badr-B'' internal structure was made of space qualified aluminium [[Chemistry:6063 aluminium alloy#6063-T6|T-6 alloy]].<ref name="Space Research Commission">{{cite web|last=SUPARCO |title=Badr-B: Configurations |url=http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp |work=SUPARCO |publisher=Space Research Commission |accessdate=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929170745/http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/badrb.asp |archivedate=29 September 2011 }}</ref>  The [[Chemistry:Gallium arsenide|gallium arsenide]] (GaAs) solar arrays were used to provide and generate the [[Physics:Power|electronic power]] during the [[Astronomy:Sunlight|sunlit]] periods.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/> The nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries stored power for use during the [[Astronomy:Eclipse cycle|eclipse periods]].<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>  Earth pointing single axis stabilization was achieved by the use of a 6 m gravity gradient boom with a trip mass of 4&nbsp;kg.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>

==Launch plans and site selections==

The Suparco set its deadline to launch the satellite in 1994 but, due to the satellite being upgraded time passed and Suparco lost the space orbital entry slot.<ref name="Dawn Media Group"/> Suparco then planned to ''Badr-B'' in 1995 or as early of 1996 but did not materialize the plan.<ref name="Dawn Media Group"/> By 1996, ''Badr-B'' was completed and was ready to launch but due to upcoming elections in 1997, the plan was put on hold.<ref name="Dawn Media Group"/> Since Suparco has no launch complex, it began to hold talks with China and Russia at the lowest rate.<ref name="Dawn Media Group"/> In 1998, following the restrictions applied on Pakistan after it had conducted atomic tests (See ''Chagai-I'' and ''Chagai-II''), Suparco was unable to launch the satellite, therefore putting the satellite in storage.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/>

Delaying of the satellite's launch programme further frustrated the scientific community, therefore, Government of Pakistan launched the work on ''[[Shaheen-III]]'' and ''Ghauri-III'' expendable rockets in 1998.<ref name="Dawn News Headlines">{{cite news|last=Staff Reporter|title=Pakistan's second satellite ready for launch|url=http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/26jun99.html#seco|accessdate=10 November 2011|newspaper=Dawn News Headlines|date=26 June 1999}}</ref>  In 2001, senior scientist [[Biography:Abdul Qadeer Khan|Abdul Qadeer Khan]] approached the Pakistan Government to receive permission to launch the satellite from either Tilla Launch Complex or Sonmiani Launch Complex.<ref name="Printwise Publications"/> However, then-CMLA General Pervez Musharraf denied the request of Khan.<ref name="Printwise Publications"/>

In 2001, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences held the [[Organization:International Nathiagali Summer College on Physics|physics and mathematics conference]] on astrophysics in Pakistan where scientists from all over the country were invited to come to Nathiagali.<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media">{{cite news|last1=Reza |first1=Sa`adia |title=Pakistan risks losing orbital slot if satellite not launched |url=https://archives.dawn.com/archives/158035 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121022102637/http://archives.dawn.com/archives/158035 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |accessdate=10 November 2011 |newspaper=Dawn News Group of Media |date=December 1, 2011 }}</ref>  In a media interview given at Nathiagali, Abdul Qadeer Khan maintained that, "Pakistan has very robust nuclear [[Engineering:Intermediate-range ballistic missile|I.R.B.M.]] system which can launch [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]]ing satellites. All Pakistan has to do is to erase [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]] or Calcutta from the target and point it towards the sky. Instead of Hydrogen bombs and Atomic bombs, the missiles can easily carry a payload of an 80 kg satellite into the sky...".<ref name="Printwise Publications"/>  [[Physics:Astrophysics|Astrophysicist]] [[Biography:M. Shahid Qureshi|Shahid Kureshi]] also argued that [IRBM] missiles have very robust and effective electronics and computer system, the [[Astronomy:Satellite Launch Vehicle|[SLV]s]] used the similar technology.<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media"/> Taking part in this discussion, [[Physics:Nuclear physics|Nuclear physicist]] [[Biography:Pervez Hoodbhoy|Pervez Hoodbhoy]] believed that "If we [Pakistan] can launch a missile up to a range of 1,500 km, why not build an [SLV] that can launch low-atmosphere satellites?".<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media"/>

[[Biography:Abdul Majid (physicist)|Abdul Majid]], an astrophysicist, countered the pressure in a media interview in 1999 given to ''Dawn Newspapers'', and in his own words, Majid summed up that, "with Meteor-3M (a Soviet satellite), other four satellites one each from [Pakistan], Malaysia, Morocco and the United States  are to be mounted on the bigger Russian rocket. It was only the Pakistan's ''Badr-B'' satellite which had met the deadline set by the Russians. The deadline was in April. All the other satellites failed to meet the deadline".<ref name="Dawn News Headlines"/>

==Launch and mission==

After receiving criticism from the scientific society, the Suparco succeeded in a talks held with Russian Federal Space Agency on a possible low rates.<ref name="Wireservice of Dawn">{{cite news|last=Staff Reporter|title=Satellite Badar-II launched|url=http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2001/dec1501.html#sate|accessdate=10 November 2011|newspaper=Wireservice of Dawn|date=15 December 2001}}</ref>  The {{wipe|Pakistan Air Force}}'s Air Force Strategic Command flew the satellite via ''C-130 Hercules'' to Kazakhstan. The ''Badr-B'' was taken to Baikonur Cosmodrome along with Russian satellites which were also stored for the final assembly.<ref name="Space daily news">{{cite news|last=Space daily|title=Pakistan To Launch Satellite From Russian Pad|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/news/pakistan-00a.html|accessdate=10 November 2011|newspaper=Space daily news|date=December 10, 2011}}</ref>  The ''Badr-B'', along with [[Astronomy:Soviet space program|Soviet built]] [[Engineering:Meteor (satellite)#Meteor-3M|Meteor-3M]], was installed at the [[Engineering:Zenit-2|Zenit-2]] expandable rocket.<ref name="Wilhelm Gunter"/> A high level delegation of Suparco headed by Major-General  Raza Hussain arrived at the Baikonour Cosmodrome to witness the launch.<ref name="Wireservice of Dawn"/> At 17:18UTC, the ''Badr-B'' was launched along with ''Meteor-3M'' with an ascending node time of about 09:15 <ref name="Wilhelm Gunter"/><ref name="Space daily news"/>

==Experiments==

The ''Badr-B'' conduct four major ob-board experiments, including taking the snap shots of Earth images, and data storage and forwarding to its mission control center.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/> The ''Badr-B'' also used the radiation dosimeter to measure the exposure of [[Astronomy:Sun|Sun]]'s [[Physics:Ionizing radiation|ionizing radiation]] and, also used to study the [[Physics:Electromagnetic field|electromagnetic field]] of Earth.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/> The ''Badr-B'' also conduct studies on charge battery when it is exposed to [[Astronomy:Solar flare|Solar flare]] and forwarded Solar winds.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/> Expected results were sent to its mission control center in Islamabad.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>

==Achievements==

Overall, the ''Badr-B'' was an ambitious project that was intended to learn and developed the low-cost [[Astronomy:Earth observation satellite|EOS]] satellites, and to build the infrastructure for larger satellites.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>  The ''Badr-B'' also gave the scientists to understand the usage of technology for Earth imaging by using the CCD sensors; it also gave provided the scientists to enhance their studies conducted on how the solar flare effected the environment of Earth.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>  The ''Badr-B'' stimulated the research on astrophysics and astroparticle physics that encourage the scientific community to continue their research on peaceful uses of space.<ref name="Space Research Commission"/>

However, its achievements was undermined after Suparco had lost the orbital slot in four consecutive years<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media"/> The onward criticism also undermined Suparco's effort who built this satellite, and due to its long wait, the negative reception was perceived by scientific community.<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media"/> Careful analysis of launch facilities and capabilities doubted if the space programme is on track.<ref name="Dawn News Group of Media"/> With all criticism, in 2002, Suparco began to conduct further studies and launched the more ambitious and complex project which formed the basis derivatives of [[Engineering:Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite|Press system]], later this programme was integrated with Space programme 2040.<ref name="SUPARCO of Pakistan">{{cite web|last=SUPARCO |title=Remote Sensing Satellites |url=http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/rsss.asp?rssslinksid=2 |work=SUPARCO |publisher=SUPARCO of Pakistan |accessdate=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013052010/http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/rsss.asp?rssslinksid=2 |archivedate=13 October 2011 }}</ref>  Under the Space programme 2040, the ''Badr-B'' will be replaced with more complex and technologically advanced high-resolution satellite [[Engineering:Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite|PRSS-O1]], which has been launched in 2018.<ref name="SUPARCO of Pakistan"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==NASA links==
*{{cite web|last1=NSSDC|first1=National Space Science Data Center|title=NASA: BADR-2|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-056C|work=National Space Science Data Center|publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]|accessdate=10 November 2011}}
*{{cite web|last1=NSSDC ID|first1=International Designator|title=Badr-B Description|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-056C|publisher=NASA}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Satellites formerly orbiting Earth]]

{{Sourceattribution|Badr-B}}