Following the successful launch of two satellites, GovTech Agency’s Division of Telecom and Space is assembling a new satellite in the country. Unlike the previous projects, this satellite is being developed entirely by Bhutanese engineers. The satellite will be designed to capture high-resolution images of the country’s landscape and water bodies for use in agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure monitoring.
A team of nine Bhutanese engineers is designing and developing the satellite which has yet to be named.
The satellite is taking shape in a designated facility called the clean room within the GovTech Agency premises where it will be tested once assembled.
The Satellite Working Group of the GovTech Agency plans to complete the development of the first In-Country Satellite Project by mid next year. Its launch is expected towards the end of next year or early 2026.
According to the engineers, the experiences from BHUTAN-1 and India-Bhutan SAT have been invaluable and provided them with the foundational knowledge and industry experience required for developing a satellite. The India-Bhutan SAT which was launched in November 2022 deorbited in June this year.
Pooja Lepcha (PhD), Dy. Executive Engineer of Satellite Working Group said “We’re looking into developing human capacities in developing and as well as harnessing space resources and then bringing in practical applications for all Bhutanese. Then we are also looking into developing a thriving space economy which also includes the private sector which will be generating space data or data products that can also be exported outside.”
The satellite’s primary purpose is to generate high-resolution images of Bhutan that can be used for determining multiple physical properties of land and water bodies. The images will be useful in making informed decisions related to agriculture, forestry, snow cover, and landslides among other purposes.
According to the engineers, being a mountainous country with difficult terrains, Bhutan requires high-resolution images for different kinds of analyses but the cost of procuring such high-resolution satellite images is very high.
Additionally, the GovTech Agency found that there is a huge demand for satellite images among government agencies.
The Deputy Executive Engineer of the Satellite Working Group says the images generated from the satellite will be useful for several government agencies such as the National Land Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Department of Forest and Park Services, Department of Water, and National Environment Commission.
Once assembled and tested, the team plans to deploy the satellite at a distance of 500 kilometres from the earth’s surface which will make full revolutions of 16 times a day.
She added that they are also looking at developing satellite subsystems and parts within the country, as most of the subsystems or parts are currently procured from abroad.
The project is also involving students of the College of Science and Technology and Jigme Namgyel Engineering College. Students of CST will be developing payloads of the satellite and are expected to collect weather data from ground terminals placed in remote areas. Similarly, students of Jigme Namgyel Engineering College are planning to collect on-orbit magnetic field and radiation data to understand space environment.
The Satellite Working Group says this project is line with His Majesty The King’s vision to harness space resources and technologies for national benefit and to inspire the country’s youth in pursuing science, technology, and innovation.
Sonam Dendup
Edited by Phub Gyem
