Management & Technology Innovations

Malaysia Looks Upward

Malaysia takes a step forward in space technology
with the successful launch of RazakSAT

"We aim to make a mark for Malaysia in the world of science and innovation,
not just by exploring the borderless world but to go beyond, into space."
- Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili,
Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation.

On the 14th of July, Malaysia chalked up another record by sending into space the
world's first remote sensing satellite-the RazakSAT-to orbit the equator.
This latest achievement for Malaysia comes 10 years after it launched its first satellite
into space, the TiungSAT-1 and less than two years after the first Malaysian went to space.
Although the "Angkasawan" Programme has come underfire for being a waste of funds,
the launching of the latest satellite indicates that Malaysia's space ambitions are
still very much alive. In this article, International Business Review offers a brief insight
into the functions of the RazakSAT and how it could possibly benefit the country as a whole.

 Image capture from space

Initiated by Astronautic Technology Sdn. Bhd (ATSB)-a pioneer and manufacturer of satellites in Malaysia, the main purpose of launching the RazakSAT is to provide high-resolution images for Malaysia and build Malaysian space technology capabilities through ATSB. These images would be applied to precision farming, landscape mapping, forest biomass, marine spatial planning, disaster mitigation, urban as well as road network planning, meteorology and other areas that will benefit the nation as well as others that are situated along the Equator.

To achieve and ensure the success of the RazakSAT's mission, the satellite was equipped with a cost-effective high resolution imaging system for Earth observation, designed specifically to be implemented for use in a small satellite weighing less than 200kg. As such, the satellite carries a medium-sized aperture camera (MAC) which provides 2.5-megapixel resolution panchromatic and 5.0-megapixel resolution multi-spectral images.

The entire project was the brainchild of ATSB, which oversaw the design, development, launch and operations of the satellite. It should be noted that the ATSB is owned by the Ministry of Finance however it reports its activities to not just the Ministry of Finance but also the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). As such, it has the backing of the powers that be.

Operations of the satellite would be done through its ground segment in Malaysia, consisting of a Mission Control Station (MCS) and Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS). ATSB's engineers are constantly manning MCS the 24hrs a day as they would execute the mission plan, command generation and telemetry receiving, archiving as well as analysis.

The launch took place at Omelek Island on the Kwajalein Atoll of the Pacific's Marshall Islands, with the satellite blasting into orbit on Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)'s rocket called Falcon 1. The event was witnessed by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili and his delegation, who viewed the launch via webcast from the island nation of Guam.

Dr. Ongkili hailed the launching of the satellite, saying that it marked an important milestone in the country's effort to boost the reputation of its space programme and capabilities in developing space technologies of international standards. Dr Ongkili revealed that while other satellites operate on polar orbit (Sun Synchronous Orbit), the RazakSAT was designed specifically to operate at near equatorial orbit (NEqO) and will cover 70% of the oceans, where weather phenomena such as La Nina originate.

"This will allow scientists to study and monitor various critical factors that will contribute significantly to science," he added, before revealing that initial contact with the satellite has been established one-and-a-half hours into the launch by the National Space Agency at Sungei Lang in Banting.

Outcomes thus far

Within six days after the launch, MOSTI reported that RazakSAT has managed to capture its first image, though it also said that it would take at least two to three months for the satellite to become fully operational. The Deputy Minister, Fadillah Yusof said that though the image recording capability of the satellite was currently fuzzy, it is expected to record better images through a camera familiarisation process and the calibration of remote control equipment for more effective communication.

Once it becomes fully operational, the RazakSAT would be capable of orbiting the equator 14 times a day and produce six good quality image recordings. Fadillah Yusof also said that the successful image recording also proved the capability of the National Space Centre in fully controlling and managing the operations of RazakSAT.

In addition to that, Datuk Dr. Ongkili also said that over time, the RazakSAT could also be a new source of revenue for the country as other nations expressed their interest in buying time and space from RazakSAT for taking images of fires and illegal logging activities, and mapping geographical information for improved urban development planning. He revealed that 12 countries located along the equatorial belt have already expressed their interest in utilising the services of RazakSAT, with six having already made formal contact with the Malaysian Government while the other six are due to make formal applications once the satellite has become fully operational. Fadillah added that these countries are from the ASEAN, African and South American region.

Despite the potential for financial gains from offering the recorded images to other countries, the Government revealed that the development of the satellite should not be seen as providing a money-making machine for the country, but rather, it should be seen as helping to build the nation's human capital. MOSTI pointed out that with the exception of the technology and personnel involved in the launching process, local engineers were involved primarily in the construction of the satellite while the satellite itself used mainly local components except for the camera parts. It is through projects such as these that Malaysia can further build and enhance the quality of its human capital.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Sarawak will be the first state to utilise RazakSAT's remote sensing technology to better improve its development planning. MOSTI is also studying the possibility of using the satellite to assist the state's fisheries industry and fishermen associations on profiling and forecasting the existence of planktons as doing so would save fuel and manpower resources. Besides that, Fadillah Yusof also believes that RazakSAT is the solution that the Sarawak state government is looking for to help it better manage the state and its resources efficiently and economically.

If the RazakSAT proves to be successful in delivering the results that it was intended to produce in the first place, and that it does indeed benefit Malaysia and other countries, then, it may possibly be a much more worthwhile investment than the now defunct "Angkasawan" programme. Much hope has indeed been banked on the RazakSAT, since MOSTI has also revealed that RazakSAT-2 is already in the works under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

There is no doubt that Malaysia still intends on pursuing its space ambitions and
developing its capabilities in space technology, but as long as the projects it undertakes benefit
the nation and the people, rather than needlessly spending hundreds of millions of dollars to
send a single person to conduct a few trivial experiments in space, most Malaysians will
support this effort to further propel Malaysia towards becoming a fully developed nation in 2020.