Paksat-MM1

Paksat-MM1 (formerly known as AsiaSat 4) was a leased communications satellite operated by SUPARCO, Pakistan's national space agency. The satellite was provided by Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat), a Hong Kong-based satellite operator.^[1]

Paksat-MM1

Names	AsiaSat 4 Paksat-MM1
Mission type	Communications
Operator	AsiaSat (2003–2017) PAKSAT (2018–2023)
COSPAR ID	2003-014A
SATCAT no.	27718
Website	https://www.asiasat.com
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 22 years, 3 months and 21 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	AsiaSat 4
Spacecraft type	Boeing 601
Bus	HS-601HP
Manufacturer	Hughes Space and Communications
Launch mass	4,137 kg (9,121 lb)
Dry mass	2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
Dimensions	3.4 m x 3.5 m x 5.8 m Span: 26.2 m on orbit
Power	9.6 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	12 April 2003, 00:47:01 UTC
Rocket	Atlas 3B SEC (AC-205)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-36B
Contractor	Lockheed Martin
Entered service	June 2003
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	122° East (2003–2017) 38° East (2018–present)
Transponders
Band	48 transponders: 28 C-band 20 Ku-band
Coverage area	Asia, Pacific Ocean
AsiaSat constellation ← AsiaSat 3S AsiaSat 5 → Paksat constellation ← Paksat-1R Paksat-MM1R →

Initially stationed at 122° East longitude, Paksat-MM1 was later relocated to 38.2° East to better serve Pakistan and the surrounding region. During most of its operational life at 122° East, it provided fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio, and data transmission, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean region.^[2]

Satellite description

AsiaSat 4 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, for US$220 million, which by the time of its launch had become part of Boeing Satellite Systems. It is based on the HS-601HP satellite bus. At launch, it had a mass of 4,137 kg (9,121 lb),^[2] and a design life of fifteen years. It carries twenty eight C-band and twenty Ku-band transponders.^[2] It was planned for late 1999, but was delayed because of the Asian crisis. Construction started in September 2000.^[3]

Launch

AsiaSat 4 was launched by an Atlas 3B SEC launch vehicle with the Centaur upper stage from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-36B) at 00:47:01 UTC on 12 April 2003.^[4]

AsiaSat 4 was insured for launch and first year in orbit. The AsiaSat 4 was replaced by AsiaSat 9 in 2017.^[5]

Life as Paksat-MM1

In February 2018 it was leased by PakSat International, a subsidiary of SUPARCO (Pakistan's space agency), from the Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) . Previously positioned at 122° East longitude, it was relocated to 38.2° East to serve Pakistan's needs. Paksat renamed it Paksat-MM1 (Paksat-Multi Mission 1) and began operations in March 2018.^[2]

After the lease expired, the satellite was returned to China and relocated to 147.5° East. As of 29 August 2024 (according to flysat.com), it is no longer operational and has been replaced by PakSat-MM1R, a new satellite launched on 30 May 2024.^[6]

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Paksat-1
• Paksat-1R
• AsiaSat 9