Introduction of Malaysia Space Center and status of RazakSAT

The Malaysia Space Center, under the National Space Agency of Malaysia (ANGKASA), is a complex built on 400 acres of land in Banting, about 40 km south-west of Kuala Lumpur. Currently, two facilities have been completed, the Mission Operation Centre (MOC) and the Optical Calibration Lab. Both these facilities were officiated by the prime minister of Malaysia on October 4, 2006.

The MOC is to be used as ground command and control for the upcoming Malaysian Earth observation satellite, RazakSAT. While that satellite will be launched in 2008, since December 2005 the MOC has been used as a tracking station for the GIOVE-A satellite developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL). The MOC is equipped with two antennas, a 7.3 m dish antenna for receiving signals and a 5 m dish antenna for tracking, telemetry and command.

The Optical Calibration Lab is having a class 1000 clean room installed, and is currently equipped with an integrating sphere, spectroradiometer and satellite turntable. The facility was used to calibrate RazakSAT's optical system before its launch.

According to Dr. Mustafa Din Subari, deputy director general of ANGKASA, RazakSAT is now set to be launched in the first quarter of 2008, by the Falcon1 rocket developed by SpaceX of the U.S. Pre-flight calibration of the imaging system has already been completed.

Detailed information about the Malaysia National Space Center is available on ANGKASA's website
www.angkasa.gov.my