Paksat-MM1

The PakSat-MM1 is a communications satellite, leased to the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, by the Hong Kong based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat). Originally known as AsiaSat 4, it was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 122° East of the Greenwich Meridian, but now moved to 38.2° East.

It spent most of its operational life at 122° East, from where it was used to provide fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio and data transmission, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

Satellite description
AsiaSat 4 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, for US$220 million, which by the time of its launch had become part of Boeing Satellite Systems. It is based on the HS-601HP satellite bus. At launch, it had a mass of 4137 kg, and a design life of fifteen years. It carries twenty eight C-band and twenty Ku-band transponders. It was planned for late 1999, but was delayed because of the Asian crisis. Construction started in September 2000.

Launch
The launch of AsiaSat 4 was launched by an Atlas 3B SEC launch vehicle with a Centaur upper stage. The launch was conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-36B) at 00:47:01 UTC on 12 April 2003.

AsiaSat 4 was insured for launch and first year in orbit. The AsiaSat 4 was replaced by AsiaSat 9 in 2017.

Paksat-MM1
AsiaSat 4 in February 2018, was leased to PakSat International operator. It was subsequently moved to a longitude of 38.2° East, and in March 2018 it began operations for PakSat, who refer to it as Paksat-MM1 (Paksat-Multi Mission 1). Paksat-MM1 was a leased satellite whose original name was AsiaSat 4, When lease ended, it was returned to China and then it moved to 147.5° E. According to flysat.com its now empty satellite at the moment and with its original name AsiaSat 4.

Paksat-MM1R
PakSat-MM1R was launched on 30 May 2024, and has reached its earth orbit on June 5, 2024 and the satellite will be available for its services by end August 2024, as per plan. This high power multi-mission satellite will provide services in C, Ku and Ka Bands.