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SupremeSAT

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. is the first and only Sri Lankan satellite operator.[1] It has partnership with satellite manufacturing institution China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). The company is controversial for its ties with the Rajapaksa family of Sri Lanka.[2]

SupremeSAT deployed the first Sri Lankan satellite, Supreme SAT-I on November 12, 2012, launched on Long March 3B from Xichang, China.[3] Supreme SAT-I is jointly owned by China's CGWIC and SupremeSAT. SupremeSAT becomes the 27th private company in the world to own a satellite.[4]

SupremeSAT is planned to invest over LKR 320 million, and planning to launch Sri Lanka's first ever communications satellite. It will be called SupremeSAT-III. The SupremeSAT-III will be providing all types[vague] of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka.

SupremeSAT
SupremeSAT logo
Agency overview
FormedOctober 25, 2011; 12 years ago (2011-10-25)
TypeSpace agency
HeadquartersColombo, Sri Lanka
Key peoplePrathiba perera
Primary spaceportXi-Chang, China
Owner Sri Lanka
Annual budgetUS$ 20 million[5]
Websitewww.supremesat.com

SupremeSAT has laid foundation stone for the first 'Space Academy' at the Kandy BOI (Board of Investment). An investment of $20 million on Space Academy, which is targeting to train Sri Lankans in space and satellite technology.[needs update] Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations.[when?]

Satellite fleet

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SupremeSAT Satellites
Satellite Location Launched Type Notes
ChinaSat 12 87.5°E November 27, 2012 SB4000C2 Manufacturer: Thales Alenia Space
SupremeSAT-II 98°E Planned mid 2018 DFH-4 Manufacturer: China Academy Of Space Technology (CAST). Satellite will have KU band.
SupremeSAT-III 50°E ? - Planned to shift the businesses from SupremeSAT-I & SupremeSAT-II to SupremeSAT-III.[6]

Controversies

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There are numerous allegations that the funding came from the Sri Lankan government and the funds were mishandled.[7] President Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Rohitha Rajapaksa played a key role in the project and is believed to have business links.[8][2][9] SupremeSAT denies these allegations [10]

References

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  1. ^ SupremeSAT : About us
  2. ^ a b "China launches Sri Lanka's first satellite as India watches ties grow". Reuters. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka University & World Campus News - Sri Lanka First Satellite Launched-SupremeSAT". lankauniversity-news.
  4. ^ Lanka steps into space today with first satellite
  5. ^ dailynews.lk Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Satellites - SupremeSAT".
  7. ^ ""SupremeSAT" cost Rs 460mn obtained from CEB funds: Champika - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. ^ "Missed Opportunity". www.sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  9. ^ Rohitha Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka's first satellite, 22 November 2012, retrieved 2023-09-04
  10. ^ ""SupremeSAT not owned by Rohitha Rajapaksa"". 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.