Pico Satellite for Bangladesh is a joint research initiative of BSMRAAU and Pico Satellite Company of Bangladesh. The main idea is to develop a series of pico satellites or cube satellites locally that are low in cost but high in return. A dedicated Lab has been set up in the Lalmonirhat Campus as well as in the Dhaka Campus of BSMRAAU, where a significant number of students and faculty members are working under the supervision of Professor Dr. Nazmul Ula, Founder of Pico Satellite Company.
The current objective of this project is to build a flight-ready 1U CubeSat by December 2023. Along the way it is expected that the required expertise will be developed among the students and faculty members to build many more pico or cube satellites in the future.
This may pave the way for a full-fledged space program here in BSMRAAU within the next 10 years. The global CubeSat market is projected to be valued at 491.3 million US dollars by 2027. BSMRAAAU wants to help Bangladesh to be a part of that economy. In this regard, expertise, facilities, and opportunities are being gathered here in BSMRAAU to facilitate small-scale space entrepreneurship in the near future in Bangladesh.
Objectives:
⦁ International collaboration on research in the field of design, development and launching of CubeSats.
⦁ International collaboration and cooperation with Pico Satellite Company.
⦁ Expansion of joint research initiative with NRB Scholar Dr. Nazmul Ula, Associate Dean and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Loyola Marymount University, USA.
⦁ Infuse education on design, development and launching of CubeSats into the undergraduate students of BSMRRAAU.
⦁ Develop a collaborative research ecosystem amongst the students and faculties of BSMRAAU.
⦁ Create a pathway for Bangladesh to achieve its own Space Economy.
On 28 February 2024, on the fifth foundation anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, a successful balloon test of the Cube Satellite was completed in the presence of Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, BBP, BUP, nswc, fawc, psc, Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force, as the Chief Guest.
Vice Chancellor of BSMRAAU Air Vice Marshal AKM Manirul Bahar, BSP, ndc, hdmc, afwc, psc, ADWC, Vice Chancellors of other universities, teachers, and other distinguished guests were also present at that time.
In this test of the cube satellite assembled in the lab of BSMRAAU, the cube satellite was raised to a height of 1126 feet above the ground in a weather balloon.
Later, temperature, pressure, altitude, and satellite camera images were recorded through self-made ground stations. This type of test is the first in Bangladesh.
Assembly of this Cube Satellite, construction of the payload circuit, mission design, all programming, and construction of the ground station were done by 'Pico-Satellite for Bangladesh' Project Team.
This project is a joint venture of Pico Satellite Company, BSMRAAU and ICT Division a2i.
It is under the overall supervision of a Valiant Freedom Fighter Professor Dr Nazmul Ula, Distinguished Professor Air Commodore (retd) Dr Md Afzal Hossain, and Assistant Professor Md Samin Rahman.
Besides, BSMRAAU students played a leading role in this balloon test: Redwan, Nuzhat, Benzir, Alif, Rafi, Ushoshi, Moontaha, Siam, Ehsan, Sami, Joy, Faria, Humaira, Samia, Ninad, Shafeen, Fatiha, Holyjeet, Ahnaf and Olee.
With this historic achievement, BSMRAAU represented a significant breakthrough in space technology research and development in Bangladesh.
It also demonstrated a strong commitment to developing the next generation of aerospace engineers and scientists.
The 'Pico-Satellite for Bangladesh' project team is working with the dream of manufacturing small satellites in Bangladesh and exported outside the country.
Thus, slowly but surely Bangladesh will become an important part of the global space economy.
On 28 February 2024, on the fifth foundation anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, a successful balloon test of the Cube Satellite was completed in the presence of Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, BBP, BUP, nswc, fawc, psc, Chief of Air Staff...
www.tbsnews.net