SupremeSAT
 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2017) |
 SupremeSAT logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 25, 2011 |
| Type | Space agency |
| Headquarters | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Key people | R. M. Manivannan (Managing Director) |
| Primary spaceport | Xi-Chang, China |
| Annual budget | US$ 20 million[1] |
| Website | www.supremesat.com |
SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. is the first and only Sri Lankan satellite operator.[2] It has partnership with China's state owned satellite manufacturing institution China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC).
SupremeSAT deployed the first Sri Lankan satellite, Supreme SAT-I on November 27, 2012, launched on Long March 3B from Xichang, China. [3] Supreme SAT-I is jointly owned by China's CGWIC and SupremeSAT. SupremeSAT becomes the 27th private company in the world to own a satellite.[4]
SupremeSAT is planned to invest over US$320 million, and planning to launch Sri Lanka's first ever communications satellite. It will be called SupremeSAT-III. The SupremeSAT-III will be providing all types[vague] of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka.
SupremeSAT has laid foundation stone for the first 'Space Academy' at the Kandy BOI (Board of Investment). An investment of US$20 million on Space Academy, which is targeting to train Sri Lankans in space and satellite technology, will begin in 2013.[needs update] Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations.[when?]
Satellite fleet
| Satellite | Location | Launched | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SupremeSAT-I | 87.5°E | November 27, 2012 | SB4000C2 | Manufacturer: Thales Alenia Space |
| SupremeSAT-II | 98°E | Planned mid 2018 | DFH-4 | Manufacturer: China Academy Of Space Technology (CAST). Satellite will have KU band. |
| SupremeSAT-III | 50°E | ? | - | Planned to shift the businesses from SupremeSAT-I & SupremeSAT-II to SupremeSAT-III.[5] |