Sri Lanka seeks to put satellite in orbit for US$150mn

Sri Lanka is planning a space project with a British firm in a 150 million US dollar deal that could see a satellite launched into a geo-stationary orbit above the island in 30-months, an official said.

"There is commercial interest for a communications satellite but there has to be a project for others to participate," Sri Lanka's telecom regulator Priyantha Kariyapperuma said.

"The cabinet of ministers has already approved a proposal to start a space agency and we want to build up capacity."

In November the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority signed a deal with Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited (SSTL) of UK to get know how and eventually launch a satellite.

Kariyapperuma says the program, which involves small satellites, may cost about 150 million US dollars.

"We want to sell capacity in the satellite ahead of the launch, because there is demand," he said.

"We also maintain friendly relations with other South Asian states so we will be able to serve all of them."

Under international rules Sri Lanka has two slots for geo-stationary satellites. Such a satellite is placed at a height of 36,000 kilometres above the earth and orbits at a speed (geosynchronous) where the object appears stationary from the ground.

The so called Clarke orbit, named after science fiction visionary Arthur C. Clarke is used to bounce communication signals.

Under the deal with SSTL Sri Lanka will also get access to an imaging satellite, which is on polar orbit. A satellite on polar orbit effectively 'overflies' the entire earth as the earth rotates underneath it.

The UK-DMC2 satellite (Disaster Monitoring Constellation -2) is owned by SSTL and is on a low orbit of 650 kilometres.

SSTL consultant Nicholas Plant says the firm, which started 26 years ago will also help set up a ground station to receive imagery and give support to set up a space agency and build up capacity to eventually operate the communications satellite.

Plant says SSTL has helped with initial support for a space agency for Korea and other countries who wanted to put their foot into space at a low cost.

Kariyapperuma says Sri Lanka will look for capacity from Sri Lankan expatriates who are with space agencies in other countries.