SOFIA (Bulgaria), May 5, 2017 – Bulgaria Sat announced today that the planned launch window for BulgariaSat-1, Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite, is scheduled for mid-June 2017.
The countdown has officially begun for the launch of the first Bulgarian geostationary communications satellite in the country's history. BulgariaSat-1 will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the United States.
The first-stage booster assigned to the mission is the same Falcon 9 booster that successfully landed on SpaceX's autonomous drone ship in the Pacific Ocean following an earlier mission this year, marking another milestone in the advancement of reusable launch technology.
"Reusable rockets represent a revolution in space transportation and create new opportunities for smaller countries and companies to own and operate satellite infrastructure."
"When we selected SpaceX to launch our satellite in 2006, the company was only at the beginning of its journey, and we were the larger organization. Eleven years later, the situation is quite different. What remains unchanged, however, is the lesson that regardless of the business environment, if you focus on solutions rather than excuses, even space is within reach, including from Bulgaria," Zayakov added.
"Elon Musk and the SpaceX team have demonstrated how innovation can dramatically reduce the time required to access transformative technologies and improve quality of life. This creates an opportunity for Bulgaria to engage proactively in new segments of the space economy and develop capabilities in advanced space technologies."
Launch Campaign and Timeline
The launch campaign is expected to take approximately one month and includes a series of pre-launch activities such as final spacecraft testing, propellant loading, integration with the launch vehicle, and mission readiness reviews.
A team of Bulgarian engineers is currently working on-site in the United States, supporting all phases of the mission, including launch preparations and subsequent in-orbit testing.
Following launch, BulgariaSat-1 will be transferred to its designated orbital position, where it will undergo approximately one month of in-orbit testing and system optimization before entering commercial service.
Satellite Capabilities
The satellite has successfully completed all qualification and acceptance testing required to demonstrate its ability to operate reliably in the harsh environment of geostationary orbit, approximately 36,000 kilometers above Earth. In orbit, the spacecraft will be exposed to extreme temperature variations ranging from approximately -170°C to +125°C, as well as significant radiation levels throughout its operational lifetime.
"From the initial concept and financing through manufacturing and now launch, this project has taken nearly twelve years to complete. Developing and deploying a geostationary communications satellite is an extraordinary technological, financial, and human undertaking," said Zayakov.
BulgariaSat-1 has a contractual design life of 15 years and carries sufficient onboard propellant to support operations for up to an additional five years, providing an expected operational lifespan of approximately 20 years.
"This first-of-its-kind investment by a private Bulgarian company demonstrates the ambition and capabilities of Bulgaria's high-technology sector. BulgariaSat-1 is a strong statement about the potential of Bulgarian innovation, engineering, and entrepreneurship," Zayakov concluded.
About Bulgaria Sat
Bulgaria Sat is a Bulgarian satellite operator and owner of BulgariaSat-1, the first Bulgarian geostationary communications satellite. The company develops and operates satellite communications infrastructure and provides satellite connectivity services across Europe and the wider region.