![\"In](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/In-2011-a-Long-March-3B-carrier-rocket-lifted-off-successfully-sending-PakSAT-1R-into-its-designated-orbit.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOn August 24, 2026, PakSAT-1R completed all deorbiting operations following the execution of its final orbital control command, formally leaving the 38\u00b0 East orbital position it had occupied for 15 years.<\/p>\n
Affectionately known as \u201cPakSat-1R\u201d by Chinese and Pakistani space professionals, the communications satellite concluded its mission with a graceful final farewell to space.<\/p>\n
The story began at 12:15 a.m. on August 12, 2011, when a Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.<\/p>\n
About 26 minutes later, data received by the Xi\u2019an Satellite Control Center confirmed that the satellite had separated normally from the rocket and accurately entered a geostationary transfer orbit with a perigee of 204 kilometers and an apogee of 41,985 kilometers. At that moment, PakSAT-1R began its journey in space.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In 2011, a Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off, successfully sending PakSAT-1R into its designated orbit.<\/em><\/p>\n PakSAT-1R was the first satellite China exported to an Asian customer under an in-orbit delivery arrangement. Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite was based on the DFH-4 bus and had a launch mass of 5,120 kilograms. It carried 30 transponders operating in two frequency bands, as well as three antennas.<\/p>\n Its beams covered South Asia, the Middle East, eastern Africa and parts of Europe. The satellite also carried a payload independently developed by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.<\/p>\n On September 11, 2011, PakSAT-1R successfully reached its in-orbit testing position at 37.8\u00b0 East before drifting to its final orbital slot at 38\u00b0 East. The satellite was formally delivered in orbit to SUPARCO on November 1, followed by the handover of two ground control stations in Lahore and Karachi on November 30.<\/p>\n For the next 15 years, PakSAT-1R remained at its orbital post at 38\u00b0 East. It provided Pakistan with broadband internet access, digital television broadcasting, satellite communications, emergency communications, distance education and telemedicine services.<\/p>\n From South Asia to Central Asia and from Eastern Europe to East Africa, its signals crossed borders, bringing information and connectivity to millions of households. Replacing the previously leased PakSAT-1, it became Pakistan\u2019s first communications satellite under the country\u2019s own control.<\/p>\n PakSAT-1R communications satellite.<\/em><\/p>\n Designed for an operational life of 15 years, PakSAT-1R not only completed all its assigned missions but also witnessed the deepening of space cooperation between China and Pakistan through years of stable operation.<\/p>\n Its successor, PakSAT-MM1, was successfully launched in May 2024, while Pakistan planned to launch another next-generation satellite in December 2025. PakSAT-1R had already passed the baton to a new generation of spacecraft.<\/p>\n As PakSAT-1R\u2019s thrusters completed their final firing and the satellite slowly departed the orbital position it had guarded for 15 years, the \u201cStar of Friendship\u201d received a final tribute.<\/p>\n For a decade and a half, it carried the expertise and dedication of Chinese and Pakistani space professionals, silently transmitting signals and hope from space.<\/p>\n Farewell, PakSAT-1R. You began your journey in Xichang and shone in space for 15 years. Now, with your mission accomplished, the sky you once watched over will always remember your path.<\/p>\n Source:<\/strong> China Great Wall Industry Corporation<\/p>\n PakSAT-1R was not the only satellite China delivered to Pakistan. It became the starting point for a broader partnership spanning communications, Earth observation, satellite applications and technical training.<\/p>\n In July 2018, China launched the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1 and PakTES-1A aboard a Long March-2C\/SMA carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.<\/p>\n PRSS-1 was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology on the CAST2000 satellite platform. It was delivered in orbit to Pakistan in December 2018 and became the second satellite system China supplied to the country under an in-orbit delivery arrangement. The satellite supports applications including land and resource surveys, environmental monitoring, agricultural assessment, urban planning and disaster management.<\/p>\n PakTES-1A, by contrast, was developed by SUPARCO. China provided launch services for the satellite rather than supplying it under an in-orbit delivery contract. The distinction reflects the gradual expansion of bilateral cooperation from complete satellite systems to missions involving greater Pakistani participation in satellite development.<\/p>\n The next major milestone came with PakSAT-MM1. Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology on the DFH-4E satellite platform, the 5,400-kilogram communications satellite was launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket on May 30, 2024.<\/p>\n PakSAT-MM1 carries 48 transponders operating in the C, Ku, Ka and L bands, as well as nine antennas. It can provide television broadcasting, regional communications, high-throughput broadband and satellite-based augmentation services. Its coverage includes Pakistan, parts of the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, East Africa and parts of Europe.<\/p>\n The satellite reached its designated orbital position at 38.2\u00b0 East on June 7, 2024, and the complete satellite system was formally delivered to SUPARCO in August. PakSAT-MM1 is designed to operate for 15 years and has taken over many of the services previously provided by PakSAT-1R.<\/p>\n Pakistan has also launched several domestically developed Earth observation satellites aboard Chinese rockets, including PRSC-EO1 in January 2025 and PRSC-EO3 in April 2026. These missions were primarily launch-service projects rather than Chinese satellite exports, demonstrating Pakistan\u2019s growing domestic spacecraft development capabilities.<\/p>\n China\u2019s international satellite business extends well beyond Pakistan. Its in-orbit delivery model generally covers satellite design and manufacturing, launch services, orbital insertion and testing, ground systems, personnel training and final handover. For countries without a complete domestic space industry, this provides a relatively direct route to acquiring operational satellite capabilities.<\/p>\n China\u2019s first commercial communications satellite delivered in orbit was NigComSat-1, supplied to Nigeria in 2007. After the satellite suffered an in-orbit power failure in 2008, China developed NigComSat-1R as its replacement. Launched in December 2011 and delivered to Nigeria in March 2012, NigComSat-1R provides communications coverage across sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia.<\/p>\n Venezuela became another major customer. China delivered the country\u2019s first communications satellite, VeneSat-1, in 2008. It was followed by the VRSS-1 remote sensing satellite in 2013 and VRSS-2 in 2018. VRSS-1 was China\u2019s first remote sensing satellite delivered in orbit to an international customer, expanding the export model beyond communications spacecraft.<\/p>\n China also supplied Bolivia\u2019s first communications satellite, T\u00fapac Katari 1. Launched in December 2013, the satellite supports telecommunications, television broadcasting, internet access, distance education and telemedicine across Bolivia.<\/p>\n LaoSat-1, Laos\u2019 first communications satellite, was launched in November 2015 as part of an integrated broadcasting and telecommunications system supplied by China. The project included the satellite, launch services, ground infrastructure and operational support.<\/p>\n In January 2016, China launched BELINTERSAT-1 for Belarus and delivered it in orbit that May. It was the first communications satellite operated by Belarus and the first Chinese-built satellite supplied to a European country.<\/p>\n AlcomSat-1, Algeria\u2019s first communications satellite, was launched in December 2017 and formally delivered in April 2018. It supports television broadcasting, broadband connectivity, emergency communications, distance education, e-government and satellite-based augmentation applications.<\/p>\n China has also worked with Brazil through the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program. Unlike a conventional satellite export, CBERS is a long-running joint development program under which the two countries share development responsibilities, satellite data and Earth observation capabilities.<\/p>\n More recently, Chinese companies have begun supplying smaller and more specialized spacecraft. In early 2025, an intelligent remote sensing satellite designated IRSS-1 was delivered to an Omani customer, illustrating how China\u2019s international satellite business is expanding from large geostationary communications satellites into smaller Earth observation and commercial remote sensing systems.<\/p>\n Taken together, these projects show how China\u2019s role has evolved from providing launch services to exporting complete space systems. The product is no longer simply a satellite or a rocket launch, but an integrated package that can include spacecraft manufacturing, orbital delivery, ground facilities, training, operational support and satellite applications.<\/p>\n Related Reading:<\/strong> From PakSAT-1R to a new generation of smaller commercial spacecraft, China\u2019s international satellite delivery capabilities continue to expand. In August 2026, a Chinese commercial space company completed its first full satellite delivery to a Southeast Asian customer, covering spacecraft development, launch, ground systems and personnel training. Read more: China Launches Seven Satellites on One Rocket, Including Thai CubeSat<\/a>.<\/p>\n Looking to deploy your own satellite capability? STARPATH GLOBAL supports complete in-orbit satellite delivery, mission-specific spacecraft development and cost-effective rideshare launch services. Explore our custom satellite solutions<\/a>, with flexible financing options<\/a>\u2014including installment payment plans\u2014to help turn your mission concept into an operational space asset.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On August 24, 2026, PakSAT-1R completed all deorbiting operations following the execution of its final orbital control command, formally leaving the 38\u00b0 East orbital position it had occupied for 15 years. Affectionately known as \u201cPakSat-1R\u201d by Chinese and Pakistani space professionals, the communications satellite concluded its mission with a graceful final farewell to space. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[135,7191,10194,205,511,10192,10193,451,7828],"class_list":["post-88721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-china","tag-communications-satellites","tag-in-orbit-delivery","tag-long-march","tag-pakistan","tag-paksat-1r","tag-paksat-mm1","tag-satellite-communications","tag-suparco"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88721"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88721"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88730,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88721\/revisions\/88730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"PakSAT-1R](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PakSAT-1R-communications-satellite.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMore Chinese-Built Satellites Delivered to Pakistan<\/h2>\n
China\u2019s Satellite Deliveries to Other Countries<\/h2>\n
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