Bangladesh

SGAC Bangladesh

National Points of Contact Bangladesh

Welcome to the national page of SGAC Bangladesh!

The main objective of the SGAC Bangladesh is to reach and connect students and young professionals in order to inspire Bangladesh’s next space generation. Bangladesh as a developing country is still new in the space arena. However, the country is progressing towards adopting modern technology. However, Bangladesh has a huge number of enthusiastic youth who are extremely talented and curious about space-related activities. SGAC Bangladesh hopes to bring the young space community of Bangladesh together to grow a network for a better future in space.

Stay in touch with us

Young Space Activities Overview in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, most of the Astronomy and Space Science related activities are youth-oriented. 

Bangladesh to enter space age: 

In contrast to fulfilling the vision of Digital Bangladesh, the country had planned to launch its own satellite “Banghabandhu-1”, from Cape Canaveral in March 2018 on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. And now it is in orbit. “Banghabandhu-1” is built by Thales Alenia space on the upgraded space bus 4000B2 and will be stationed at an orbital slot at east longitude 119.1 degree. The satellite “Banghabandhu-1” is built with 26 Ku-Band and 14 C-Band transponders. The satellite will have coverage Ku- Band coverage encompasses Bangladesh and the surrounding region, Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia. It also has the capability of C-Band over the whole region. 

The two Satellite ground stations have been set up at Joydebpur in Gazipur and Betbunia in Rangamati. Two ground facility buildings gathering Satellite Control and Network Operations Center based on the SpaceGate Thales Alenia Space global solution. 

Bangladesh first Nano-satellite ‘BRAC Onnesha’ is in space: 

The country’s first nano-satellite BRAC Onnesha was designed and built in conjunction with Kyushu Institute of Technology’s Birds-1 program, and was launched into space on the 3rd June from Kennedy Space Center. BRAC Onnesha came into operation on 7th July 2017. The 1U BRAC Onnesha cubesat lifetime is planned for 18 months. The nano- satellite is expected to pick up 10 minutes of Data when it is passing over Bangladesh, also using connection to other stations it is expected to get 70 minute’s worth of feedback data. The nano-satellite is capable of high quality photographs of land to analyze vegetation, urbanization, flood, water resources, forestry and other natural resources. 

Competitions and Challenges

Bangladeshi students have actively participated in international space competitions, showcasing their talent and ingenuity. Notable among these are the University Rover Challenge and the CanSat competition, NASA Space App Challenge, International Space Challenge, Kibo Robot Programming Challenge and others. These competitions offer students practical experience in designing, building, and operating space-related technologies, enhancing their technical skills and providing a platform to collaborate with international peers.

Some notable achievements of Bangladeshi Teams in global competitions

• Nasa Space APP challenge:

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐤: In 2018, they embarked on an exhilarating journey to the moon, captivating dreamers worldwide with their breathtaking Lunar VR application. With immersive virtual reality, they brought the historic Apollo 11 landing site to life, showcasing the power of data and creativity. Their triumph in the “Best Usage of Data” Category ignited wonder and curiosity among generations, inspiring them to explore the outer world. Their Lunar VR project allowed users to witness a lunar eclipse, interact with the Apollo 11 landing site, and orbit the moon with the LRO satellite. Armed with Google Cardboard SDK, they made it accessible to a wide range of users, driving a thirst for knowledge about space exploration.

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡: Fast forward to 2021, and their project ARSS propelled us into a realm of limitless possibilities. Their mission concept surpassed 4,534 teams from 162 countries, earning them the title of world champion in the “Best Mission Concept” category. ARSS, with its ingenious RASSOR bucket technology, made collecting regoliths on planetary surfaces a breeze, paving the way for seamless space exploration and colonization missions. They demonstrated that with bold thinking, we can forge a brighter future among the stars.

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝: And in 2022, Team Diamond shone like stars with their revolutionary “Diamond in the Sky” project, winning the category of “Most Inspirational”. They took us on an interactive space journey tailor-made for young minds aged 10 to 12. Their captivating game taught kids about stellar variability, star patterns, colors, and brightness, while instilling a passion for the wonders of the night sky. Diamond In The Sky ignited curiosity in young hearts, allowing them to see the unseen and explore the cosmic wonders that await beyond our atmosphere.

• Kibo Robot Program Challenge:

Enigma Systems have achieved 9th position in ‘Mission OZ!’ and the only Bangladeshi team that got placed in the top 10 in this competition 2022. Bangladeshi students have been doing very well in the past KIBO RPCs by achieving Runners-up in 2021 and bagging the prestigious Crew Award twice in a row in 2021 and 2022.

• CanSat Competition:

Team UIU ASTRO from United International University achieved 11th place globally in a prestigious competition organized by the American Astronautical Society, sponsored by the US Naval Research Lab and NASA. They scored 93.13%. Out of 90 registered teams, the top 20 from the USA and the top 20 from other countries were invited. This was the team’s first experience launching a space probe, and they succeeded without any aerospace engineering students, outperforming many aerospace engineering teams.

• Mars Rover Competitions:

University Rover Challenge (URC): The University Rover Challenge (URC) is the world’s premier robotics competition for college students.  Held annually in the desert of southern Utah in the United States, URC challenges student teams to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that will one day work alongside astronauts exploring the Red Planet. Teams and their rovers will compete in four missions – the Science Mission, Delivery Mission, Equipment Servicing Mission, and Autonomous Navigation Mission.

From Bangladesh, Mongol-Tori from BRAC University (BRACU) is the first one to attempt this prestigious competition in 2018. Now, BRACU, MIST, KUET, IUT and UIU are the top universities to participate in this competition on a regular basis. One notable achievement is the UIU Mars Rover team from United International University (UIU) won 1st place in Asia for the third time in a row at the University Rover Challenge 2024.

International Rover Challenge (IRC): International Rover Challenge is the only robotics and space exploration competition of its kind in Asia which challenges student teams to design and build next-generation Mars rovers. It is part of the ‘Rover Challenge Series’ of ‘The Mars Society’, USA. Besides the URC, many teams also participate in IRC. Like BRACU Mongol Tori in 2023.

Space Research and Development

Young researchers in Bangladesh are increasingly contributing to space research and development. Initiatives such as small satellite projects and space research clubs are gaining popularity. For instance, BRAC University has successfully launched nanosatellites, demonstrating the country’s growing capabilities in space technology.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaboration with international space organizations and participation in global space communities, such as the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), have opened new avenues for young Bangladeshi space enthusiasts. These partnerships provide access to a wealth of knowledge, mentorship, and networking opportunities, enabling young professionals to stay abreast of global space trends and developments.

Government and Industry Support

The Bangladeshi government, recognizing the potential of space technology for national development, has shown increasing support for space-related activities. The establishment of the Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) and the successful launch of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite are significant milestones that have inspired young aspirants to explore careers in the space sector.

Visuals

NASA Space APP Challenge

Kibo Robot Program Challenge

CanSat Competition