Badr (satellite)

This article is about the Pakistani satellites. For the Saudi Arabian communications satellites, see Arab Satellite Communications Organization.

Badr was a series of satellites operated by Pakistan. The first satellite, Badr-1, was launched in July 1990. It was the first SUPARCO-engineered object to orbit the Earth. That launch took place on July 16, 1990, as part of the International Frequency Registration Bureau. The Urdu word "Badr" literally means "Full Moon," and its launch vehicle was the Chinese Long March 2E space rocket.^[1]

Badr-1

Mission type	Experimental
Operator	SUPARCO
COSPAR ID	1990-059A
SATCAT no.	20685
Website	Badr-A
Mission duration	30 days (planned) 35 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	SUPARCO
Launch mass	52 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	16 July 1990, 00:40:00 UTC
Rocket	Long March 2E
Launch site	Xichang, LA-2
End of mission
Last contact	20 August 1990
Decay date	8 December 1990
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit

Badr-B

Mission type	Earth observation satellite
Operator	SUPARCO
COSPAR ID	2001-056C
SATCAT no.	26703
Website	Badr B
Mission duration	10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	SUPARCO
Launch mass	68 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	10 December 2001, 17:19:00 UTC
Rocket	Zenit-2
Launch site	Baikonour, Site 45
End of mission
Last contact	2012
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	986 km
Apogee altitude	1014 km
Inclination	99.7°
Period	105.0 minutes

The Badr series consisted of two satellites, both developed by SUPARCO. Badr-1 successfully completed its designated life. Badr-B was the second spacecraft and the first Earth observation satellite launched by Pakistan. It was placed into Sun-synchronous orbit on December 10, 2001, at 5:19 PM UTC.^[2]

The Badr program was decommissioned in 2012 after Badr-B completed its mission successfully. The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite has replaced the Badr program since 2018.^[3]