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Pakistan Space and Satellite Developments

Chronology of unmanned spaceflight missions by
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere
Research Commission


S U P A R C O


Rocket launchLaunch DateMissionInstitutional authorityLaunch SiteOutcomesDerivatives
Rehbar-IJune 7, 1962; 14:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessNike-Cajun
Rehbar-IIJune 11, 1962; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessNike-Cajun
Rehbar-3March 18, 1964; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-4January 12, 1966; 12:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-5January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-6February 16, 1966; 04:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-7January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-15May 3, 1967; 14:29 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Shahpar-1May 5, 1967; 14:29 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessDragon
Rehbar-16May 7, 1967; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-17March 23, 1968; 19:04 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Shahpar-2March 29, 1968; 19:20 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessDragon
Rehbar-18April 3, 1968; 05:38 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-19February 9, 1969; 13:46 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; FailureCentaure
Rehbar-20February 13, 1969; 13:48 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; FailureCentaure
Rehnuma-1March 31, 1969; 14:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; Partial SuccessCentaure
Rehnuma-2June 16, 1969; 14:34 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-3July 20, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-4July 30, 1969; 14:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-5August 15, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-6September 10, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-7October 22, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-8November 19, 1969; 13:10 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-9November 20, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-10December 17, 1969; 13:10 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-11December 31, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 13:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 15:15 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 14:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1February 11, 1970; 13:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 2March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 2March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar 21March 27, 1970; 00:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessNike-Cajun
Rehbar 22March 28, 1970; 15:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessNike-Cajun
Judi-Dart 2March 28, 1970; 00:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1April 15, 1970; 14:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1April 15, 1970; 13:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1June 17, 1970; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1July 15, 1970; 15:05 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1October 21, 1970; 15:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1November 25, 1970; 13:14 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1December 30, 1970; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessJudi Dart
Rehbar-23April 7, 1972; 14:20 GMTIonosphere MissionSUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-24April 8, 1972; 14:18 GMTIonosphere MissionSUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Shahpar-3April 28, 1972; 00:18 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOSonmiani TerminalLevel 1; SuccessCentaure


Chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests
 
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DoST KPK installs super computer facility at GIKI
Volume 04 Issue 14

STAFF REPORT PSR: The Directorate of Science & Technology (DoST) has recently operationalized the advanced super computing infrastructure, the first of its kind, with state-of-the-art High Performance Computing cluster system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The facility has been installed at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute Topi (GIKI), Swabi, through funding under a development scheme of Directorate of Science & Technology namely Development of super computer.

“The facility will be available to use for research work in data mining, computational biology, computational mechanics, space technology, weather forecasting,” said an official of the Directorate and added that all institutions/organizations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and all over Pakistan through a dedicated Internet connection could get benefit of it.

The installed cluster will provide huge storage capacity (in terabytes), fast processing power in teraflops, and reliable, efficient & accurate resource for the problems involving complex computation, the official maintained.

The facility will be open and accessible 24/7 through PERN2 to all academicians and researchers throughout Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially.

The facility is also equipped with state of the art high performance multi graphical processing units.

DoST KPK installs super computer facility at GIKI
 
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“The facility will be available to use for research work in data mining, computational biology, computational mechanics, space technology, weather forecasting,” said an official of the Directorate and added that all institutions/organizations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and all over Pakistan through a dedicated Internet connection could get benefit of it.

Big and Great news for Pakistan. Go on and show is soon.
 
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Pakistan: ICUBE-1 CubeSat

(ANS) Students at the Institute of Space Technology (IST) built Pakistan’s first CubeSat ICUBE-1. Like a number of new CubeSats its communications subsystem is capable of acting as an “AO-16 mode” FM to DSB transponder.

The IARU amateur satellite frequency coordination panel pages say that the VHF downlink will operate as a 1k2 BPSK beacon but has the capability of being configured as an FM-DSB transponder. A downlink on 145.947 MHz and an uplink on 435.060 MHz have been coordinated.

It is planned to have an imaging payload with a small low resolution CMOS sensor. The camera will be mounted on the Z+ face of the ICUBE and can take continental scale images.

ICUBE-1 is scheduled to be launched by Interorbital Systems.

ICUBE ICUBE

Student Satellite Project Student Satellite Project

Institute of Space Technology (IST) Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad.

[ANS thanks the student cubesat teams and AMSAT-UK for the above information]


Bryan Herbert – KE6ZGP » Pakistan: ICUBE-1 CubeSat
 
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Institute of Space Technology CubeSat: ICUBE-1 subsystem analysis and design

For a long while, launching satellites for the purpose of research and technology demonstration largely remained with national space agencies and government organizations as the huge funding requirements inhibited the initiation of such projects at university level. It was this idea of providing, at university level, cheap access to space that prompted the design of miniaturized versions of satellites for research purposes.

Specifications of CubeSat, a pico-satellite, were defined to provide easy access to space for educational and research institutions. The improvement in engineering technologies and miniaturization of physical components has enabled design, development and launch of such small low-cost spacecrafts and to date, more than 60 universities, institutions and research organizations have taken part in CubeSat program since its inception in 1999.

Institute of Space Technology (IST) adopted the concept of CubeSat development by initiating the satellite program, ICUBE. ICUBE is the premier student satellite program of any educational institution/university in Pakistan. The first satellite of this program is named ICUBE-1.

Successful launch of ICUBE-1 and establishing its communication link with the ground are the primary goals of this mission. The satellite has a passive attitude control system and will carry a CMOS camera for experimental purposes. In this paper, we will discuss in detail the design philosophy of ICUBE-1, followed by the preliminary design and analysis of all its subsystems. The required testing and technical support facilities are discussed before the final conclusions.

Published in:
Aerospace Conference, 2011 IEEE

Date of Conference: 5-12 March 2011

Page(s):
1 - 11

ISSN:
1095-323X

Print ISBN:
978-1-4244-7350-2

INSPEC Accession Number:
11943738

Conference Location:
Big Sky, MT

Digital Object Identifier:
10.1109/AERO.2011.5747229


IEEE Xplore - Home
 
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Supernet Signs Multi-Year GSM Backhaul Contract with SES
Friday June 21, 2013

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Supernet, Pakistan’s leading satellite network service provider, announced today a multi-year multi-million dollar contract renewal with SES, a satellite operator offering satellite communication services to operators worldwide.

The deal will see Supernet contract C-band capacity on the SES NSS-12 satellite at the prime orbital location of 57 degrees East. This satellite capacity, coupled with Supernet’s system integration capabilities, provides a high quality GSM backhaul services to Pakistan’s leading mobile operators.

The capacity is expected to further improve network coverage in Pakistan by providing voice and data signals to remote mountainous areas in the northern region and hard to reach southern regions.

Hamid Nawaz, COO Supernet Limited, stated: “SES is a trusted partner and an industry leader. We and our customers are extremely satisfied with the performance of the NSS-12 satellite throughout our networks. We are happy to enhance our relationship with SES as we continue to provide world class cellular backhaul solutions in Pakistan and in the region.”

Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice President Commercial, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at SES, said: “We have been working with Supernet since 2010 and are delighted to be able to support their growth, as the cellular industry continues to enjoy tremendous growth across Pakistan. Supernet will be able to benefit from the great location of NSS-12 to enable the delivery of voice and data to underserved markets and rural areas in the country.”

Supernet Signs Multi-Year GSM Backhaul Contract with SES
 
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Rejuvenating SUPARCO main aim: Chairman
Tuesday July 17, 2012

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Maj. Gen. Ahmed Bilal, heading SUPARCO as Chairman since Sept. 2010, is utlilising all available national resources to boost the National Space programme. He had a key role in launching the Pakistan’s first communication satellite in August 2011. After being placed at Pak Army’ GHQ, he did pioneering work in developing the structure of Nuclear Command and Control and raising of strategic forces. In recognition of his contribution to the National Development Programmes, he has been awarded Hilal-e- Imtiaz (military).

Technology Times: Would you like to give a brief introduction of SUPARCO and how it was established?

AHMED BILAL: SUPARCO, which has a history of about 50 years now, celebrated its golden jubilee in 2010. We have established this space organization in 1960, exactly one year before India. One must give credit to the vision of, Dr. Abdus Salam, who realizing the importance of space science and its future convinced the Govt to establish this organization. NASA which had then recently started their space program helped Pakistan. At that time, NASA was trying to study the upper atmosphere. It is with help of NASA that SUPARCO started the sounding rockets development program. These rockets are fired to collect the upper atmosphere data. The information gathered from these sounding rockets flights is still available with SUPARCO and is purposefully utilized. Since than, SUPARCO, worked continuously to build capacity and harness various aspects of Space Science and technology, though at a slow pace till 1999. During this period SUPARCO did sent two experimental satellites BADR I and BADR B, in space. However, in year 2000, SUPARCO was reorganized and the pace of development and capacity building picked up pace. Consequently, Pakistan launched its first commercial communication satellite PAKSAT 1R on 12 Aug 2011.

How was the communication satellite launched?

Initially, Pakistan had few slots booked in the geo synchronous orbit with the ITU. However due to non deployment of the communication satellite by due dates, Pakistan lost all slots, and was left with only one slot by 1999. So as a first step to secure the slot a used satellite was leased in space and maneuvered for deployment at 38 degrees; the allotted slot in Dec 2002. This satellite was named PAKSAT 1 and was to retire by end 2011. The challenge was thus to launch the replacement satellite before the retirement of the PAKSAT 1. A contract was thus concluded with the Chinese side in 2007 for joint development of the communication satellite PAKSAR 1R. A team of about 80 to 90 Pakistani engineers went to China and worked in developing this satellite as there was no facility in Pakistan for satellite development of this size/type. On August 12, 2011, the PAKSAT-1R was launched. In the mean time, work started of developing the infrastructure for laying the foundation of the satellite industry in Pakistan. Simultaneously, we also started working on other components of space science and technology, specially on space technology applications for socio-economic development.

Do you think that agriculture in Pakistan could get benefits from the communication satellite?

Indirectly, yes. However, Agriculture sector gets maximum benefit from intelligent applications of data collected through Remote Sensing Satellites. Since Pakistan is basically an agricultural country, our prime focus was to develop this sector and subsequently we started working on related areas like water management system, etc. Many remote sensing applications have been developed to support the agriculture sector. We are undertaking focused work to develop the remote sensing satellites in Pakistan. The communication satellite PAKSAT 1R, has a life of 15 years and is doing good business. This satellite probably has the strongest beam in the region as compared to any other satellite. Since it has strong signals, everybody wants capacity on our satellite. Presently entertainment TV, GSM backhaul, internet communication, etc. are hooked on to the satellite. In immediate future, people even in remote and inaccessible areas of the country, will Inshallah soon start availing the services for tele-education and tele-medicine. Similarly, the schools, colleges and hospitals of those areas will also start benefiting from this service.

Is it true, that, Space programme could accelerate research and development activities in the country?

Space Technology Applications act as a catalyst in the socio-economic development. Close relationship between the universities and R&D organizations like ours, enable research and development activities to really pick up. The government had been very helpful, because it had financed establishing of the basic labs for satellite development. Most of these labs are 90 per cent complete. After the completion of these labs, we can really do our research in space sciences and technology in addition to designing and making our own components. We have to work in two directions; one to cover the technological gap, and secondly to initiate R&D in the emerging cutting edge technologies. Space technology and its applications cover a wide range of technical disciplines/subjects; hence progression of the space technologies will definitely contribute in acceleration of R&D culture in Pakistan.

What kind of approach do you think is needed to analyze the achieved items and how could we get benefit of this technology?

There is a need to launch an awareness campaign to educate various segments of the society on the applications of the space technology in various developmental projects. This will greately support the socioeconomic development. There is also a need to ensure that space technology and its applications should become part of various curriculums in the universities and colleges. Universities should also undertake active R&D in various disciplines of space science and technology and its applications. Moreover, various spin of technologies should also be put to use for generating economic and development activities in various sectors.

Commercialization of research is missing in Pakistan. How can we bridge the missing link?

Universities are the places where research really incubates. We have to encourage extensive multi-disciplinary research in the universities. Besides to support the research there should be extensive Industry –university cooperation to lay the foundation of research culture. Last year, SUPARCO had given 50 multiple research projects to the under-graduate students of different universities, on related subjects. We are already reaching out to the universities and from next year onwards, plan to initiate some faculty projects of longer durations as these projects cannot be finished in the undergraduate course. In near future a student satellite program would be launched. The country has few universities which have that capability and infrastructure that could support high tech research in Pakistan. While, university-Industry collaboration is the only way forward, for commercialization of research. In near future, student satellite program will be launched. This will enable universities to design small satellites we called nano-satellites. At this point, one satellite which has the dimension of 10×10 cm, known as a CUBESAT, developed by IST (Institute of Space Technology) is ready to be launched. Negotiations are underway with several countries operating Space Launch Vehicles (SLV) for the execution of the launch. We are already working out at this point of time as to what will be the configuration for the student designed satellites and how should the students benefit from it. Its main activity will be regulated by IST (under supervision of SUPARCO) and different university will be free to design different types of payloads. Its final flying model would be assembled in our facility because it has to be in a specific environment before its launch. Launching and operation of this type of satellite will generate a lot of interest nationwide, especially in the student community.

Do you think that we are losing the cream of scientists in Pakistan? What should we do on this front?

There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan. We have to provide opportunity and an environment conducive for R&D. You see there will always be technologies to master, because we are starting from a rudimentary position. I will not clearly claim that we can advance very quickly but we will start becoming contemporary as fresh minds use new ideas. We require a cultural change and provide requisite where-with-all which supports advanced research in various disciplines. Many of our brilliant minds who want to come back to Pakistan and undertake R&D, find themselves handicapped because of the poorly equipped R&D infrastructure in universities and other research institutions. We need to create synergy and good lateral connectivity between various involved components to promote R&D culture. In the absence of proper R&D culture the flight of the talent from the country will continue. More over we should also establish International linkages to promote R&D culture in Pakistan. Industry- academia linkages are also necessary to support R&D activity in Pakistan.

Do you have any mechanism to disseminate knowledge about what is going on in the field of space sciences and satellite?

Since January 2011, we are issuing a bulletin based on our monitoring through satellite of agriculture on monthly basis, which is sent to various stake holders, besides this bulletin is also posted on the SUPARCO web site. We have also recently started another monthly bulletin of Astronomy and Astrophysics; this bulletin is also available on the SUPARCO web site and also outlines monthly astronomical events for the interested to observe through their telescopes . Two books have been written and are being provided to the school libraries, to promote knowledge on space science and technology and its applications. Besides this, we are working closely with several universities, for laying the foundation of space technology knowledge base and its applications in Pakistan. A lecturing program to various segments of the society including students is already underway to disseminate knowledge on Space Science and Technology and its application specially its importance for socio-economic development.

How can a Pakistani benefit from satellites or what positive change can occur in the life of a common man?

As I have already said earlier that space technology applications act as a catalyst in socio-economic development of the country. Remote sensing applications, help in supporting various sectors; e.g. Agriculture, Hydrology, environmental studies, urban planning, geology, mineral prospection, disaster relief operations, revnue collection, management and administration when combined with GIS solutions, etc. Communication satellites enable communication extension to remote areas; specially in those areas where terrestrial communication is not possible in applications like, long haul communication, TV broadcast, tele-education, tele-medicine, emergency communication once the other means fail in case of disasters and natural calamities etc. Similarly the satellite based Global Navigation System facilitates survey, aircraft operations, tourism, traffic management etc. Basically, ingenuity is the limit.

What are your views about Technology Times?

There has been a drastic decline in reading habits of general public as a result, there has been an overall decline of intellectual activity – This being a precursor for any worthwhile R&D activity. Moreover, intellectual activity creates moral enlightenment, which again are seen to be losing at a fast pace – resultantly, the chaos and confused state of society which we are witnessing presently.

Technology Times is a breath of fresh air by the virtue of its quality articles written on specialized and diversified subjects which act as catalyst for the thought process. We need to have many such periodical being read by lot many people to elevate the level of technical knowledge at national level.

Rejuvenating SUPARCO main aim: Chairman | TechnologyTimes Science and Technology Weekly Newspaper
 
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Interorbital Systems
Launch Manifest 2013


Orbital Launch CustomersSatelliteType
UC IrvineUCISAT1CubeSat
FPT University, VietnamF-1 CubeSat CubeSat
Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeVELOX-P CubeSat CubeSat
Google Lunar X PRIZE(GLXP)Team PLAN B (Canada)CubeSat
GLXP Team EuroLunaRomit 1 2-U CubeSat
NASA IV&V Facility, West Virginia IOS CubeSat Kit CubeSat
King Abdullah University (KAUST) Saudi ArabiaIOS CubeSat KitsCubeSats (2)
Golden-iPod/Earth-to-Sky/spaceweather.com, Bishop, CAIOS CubeSat Kit CubeSat
Pakistan’s I CUBE-1 Islamabad IS&TPakistan’s I CUBE-1CubeSat
Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University TARO: 2-U CubeSat2-U CubeSat
GLXP Team SYNERGY MOON TESLA Telescope 3-U TESLA Telescope 3-U CubeSat
Morehead State University/Kentucky SpaceIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico IOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
University of Sydney, Australia i-INSPIRETubeSat (2)
Aslan Academy, Private LA High School STEM ProgramIOS TubeSat Kit TubeSat
Dr. Sandy Antunes sonifies the ionosphere Project Calliope (Space Music)TubeSat
Universidad de Puerto Rico/Marcelino Canino Canino MSIOS TubeSat (Micrometeoroid)TubeSat
GLXP SYNERGY MOON Team Astronomska Udruga Vidulini Lunar Rover Comms QualifierTubeSat
GLXP Part-Time Scientist /Wes Faler's Fluid and ReasonFRETS-1 ion engineTubeSat (2)
Naval Postgraduate SchoolOrbital Communication NodesTubeSat (3)
Defense Science and Technology Lab, United KingdomEarth ObservationTubeSat
Austrian Arts Group mur.atMURSAT: Earth-as-Art ProjectTubeSat
United States Military Academy, West PointIOS TubeSat KitsTubeSat (2)
Brazilian Space Institute/Ubatuba Middle School IOS TubeSat KitsTubeSat (2)
Colectivo Espacial MexicanoULISES I (Music Project) TubeSat (2)
TriVector Services, Huntsville, Alabama, TRACSatTRACsat (Radiation and ACS)TubeSat
Diverbo.es/Iniciativas en Idiomas, Madrid, SpainIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
NASA IV&V Facility West VirginiaIOS TubeSat KitsTubeSat (2)
Galaxy Global, donated to NASA Educational Program IOS TubeSat Kit for NASA ED TubeSat
Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, JapanIOS TubeSats (Science Project)TubeSat (7)
AKQA, Undisclosed Advertising Project, San Francisco IOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
Universidad de Chile, SantiagoIOS TubeSat KitsTubeSat
University of Sao Paulo, BrazilIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat (2)
David Lawrence K-8 School, North Miami, Optimize-EduSatIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
RADG, Ohio---Undisclosed Advertising Project IOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
Jose Virgilio Braghetto Neto/OMNI LABS, BrazilIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
4-H/Ute Mountain Youth/Colorado State University OutreachIOS TubeSat KitTubeSat
KEN KATO---Personal Satellite Project, Japan IOS TubeSat KitTubeSat


 
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Dr Khurram Khurshid

icube.jpg


ICUBE-1 - CubeSat with an Imaging Payload

I am currently involved in ICUBE-1 project which is a small low earth orbiting satellite with an imaging payload.

ICUBE is the premier student satellite program of any educational institution/university in Pakistan. The first satellite of this program is named ICUBE-1. Successful launch of ICUBE-1 and establishing its communication link with the ground are the primary goals of this mission. The satellite has a passive attitude control system and will carry a CMOS camera for experimental purposes. The satellite is expected to be launched by the end of 2012.

Information Extraction from ancient document images using Word Spotting

We have developed a word spotting method for scanned documents in order to find the word images that are similar to a query word, without assuming a correct segmentation of the words into characters.

The connected components are first processed to transform a word pattern into a sequence of sub-patterns. Each sub-pattern is represented by a sequence of feature vectors. A modified Edit distance is proposed to perform a Segmentation-Driven string matching and to compute the SDE (Segmentation Driven Edit) distance between the words to be compared. The set of SDE operations is defined to obtain the word segmentations that are the most appropriate to evaluate their similarity.

These operations are efficient to cope with broken and touching characters in words. The distortion of character shapes is handled by coupling the string matching process with local shape comparisons that are achieved by Dynamic Time Warping.

The costs of the SDE operations are provided by the DTW distances. A sub-optimal version of the SDE string matching is also proposed to reduce the computation time, nevertheless it did not lead to a great decrease in performance. It is possible to enter a query by example or a textual query entered with the keyboard. Textual queries can be used to directly spot the word without the need to synthesize its image, as far as character prototype images are available.

wordSpotting.jpg


Dr Khurram Khurshid
 
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