Túpac Katari 1
{{Short description|Telecommunication satellite}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
Túpac Katari 1 or TKSat-1 is a telecommunications satellite that the government of Bolivia outsourced to People's Republic of China (PRC) to serve telecommunications in Bolivia, such as mobile, television and Internet use.{{cite web |language=es|url=http://www.fmbolivia.tv/satelite-tupac-katari-captara-por-ano-us-40-millones-para-el-pais/ |title=Satélite Túpac Katari captará por año $US 40 millones para el país |date=14 January 2013 |website=fmbolivia.tv |access-date=22 December 2013}}
It was launched into orbit on 20 December 2013 from the Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, China,{{cite web |language=es |url=http://www.semana.com/mundo/articulo/bolivia-lanzo-su-primer-satelite/369048-3 |title="Túpac Katari" el satélite boliviano |date=20 December 2013 |website=semana.com |access-date=22 December 2013}} with a trial period of a little over three months, and commercial operation starting in March 2014.{{cite web |language=es |url=http://www.la-razon.com/sociedad/Satelite-Tupac-Katari-protegido-millones_0_1942605796.html |title=Satélite Túpac Katari está protegido con un seguro de $us 200 millones |date=13 November 2013 |website=la-razon.com |access-date=22 December 2013}}
It was built on behalf of the Bolivian Space Agency. The China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), was responsible for the construction (using French, German and USA technology), launch and orbit of the satellite.{{cite web |url=http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20131127/morales-viajara-a-china-para-lanzamiento-del-satelite-tupac-katari_236602_513440.html |title=Morales viajará a China para lanzamiento del satélite Túpac Katari |date=27 November 2013 |website=lostiempos.com |access-date=22 December 2013 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530031056/http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20131127/morales-viajara-a-china-para-lanzamiento-del-satelite-tupac-katari_236602_513440.html |archive-date=30 May 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013122731514/bolivia-hails-tupac-katari-satellite-launch.html |title=Bolivia hails Túpac Katari satellite launch |date=27 December 2013 |website=rapidtvnews.com |access-date=3 March 2014}}
The satellite is named after 18th century Bolivian independence activist Túpac Katari.{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1312/20longmarch/#.UraNZdIW1uM |title=Bolivian satellite in orbit after successful launch from China |date=20 December 2013 |publisher=Spaceflight Now |access-date=22 December 2013}}
Technical issues
The satellite is geostationary and parked at 87.2° W, at a distance of 36,000 kilometers from equator;{{Cite web |date=23 May 2015 |title=Agencia Boliviana Espacial |url=http://www.abe.bo/fichatecnica.html |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523003641/http://www.abe.bo/fichatecnica.html |archive-date=23 May 2015}} two-way voice communications are subject to latency.
The estimated useful life is 15 years;{{Cite web |date=23 May 2015 |title=Agencia Boliviana Espacial |url=http://www.abe.bo/fichatecnica.html |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523003641/http://www.abe.bo/fichatecnica.html |archive-date=23 May 2015}} having been launched in 2013, it should be deactivated in 2028.
Cost and revenue
The satellite had a cost of around $300 million, of which $251 million was a loan from the China Development Bank (CDB) to the government of Bolivia, and the rest was paid by the government of Bolivia.{{cite web |language=es |url=http://www.paginasiete.bo/sociedad/2013/11/27/morales-viajara-china-para-lanzamiento-satelite-tupac-katari-7132.html |title=Evo Morales viajará a China para el lanzamiento del satélite Tupac Katari |date=27 November 2013 |website=paginasiete.bo |access-date=22 December 2013}}
From launch to August 2017, the satellite generated revenue of $60 million. The Bolivian Space Agency said the satellite was not a business, but instead its purpose was to increase access to communications. Running expenses were not disclosed.{{cite web |url=http://www.bolivia.com/actualidad/economia/sdi/159926/satelite-tupac-katari-cuanto-ha-producido-desde-su-lanzamiento |title=Satélite Túpac Katari: ¿Cuánto ha producido desde su lanzamiento? |access-date=22 December 2017 |website=bolivia.com |date=August 2017 |language=es}}
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
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{{Orbital launches in 2013}}
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Category:Communications satellites
Category:Science and technology in Bolivia
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2013
Category:First artificial satellites of a country
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