Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Sri Lanka is set to reach another milestone in its journey into space today with the launch of its third nano-satellite, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The satellite, named “BIRDS-X DRAGONFLY,” was developed by a team of Sri Lankan engineers under the guidance of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies in Moratuwa. The institute operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology. This latest satellite was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on August 24, aboard NASA’s SPX-33 cargo mission. It is scheduled to be released into orbit today, September 19, at 2:15 pm Sri Lankan time. The launch will be broadcast live from the Arthur C. Clarke Institute.
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This is the third time Sri Lanka is sending a nano-satellite into space. The first, Raavana-1, was launched in 2019, followed by KITSUNE in 2022 as part of an international partnership. Unlike the earlier missions, BIRDS-X DRAGONFLY was developed at no financial cost to the Sri Lankan government. The project is part of an international space collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Asian Research and Development Center (ARDC), and the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan. Accordingly, Kyushu Institute runs the BIRDS program, which helps non-spacefaring nations enter the satellite technology arena. A previous BIRDS mission, BIRDS-3, supported Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Japan in launching nano-satellites.
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Mission objectives:
- Communication system test: Evaluate a new, affordable UHF transceiver built with off-the-shelf components, designed for reliable space communication.
- APRS Digipeater: Provide a platform for amateur radio operators to send and receive messages via satellite, encouraging innovation in satellite communication.
- Store-and-Forward System: Demonstrate how data can be stored on the satellite and later transmitted to different ground stations globally.
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Several Sri Lankan experts were instrumental in the project’s success. Key figures include Eng. (Dr.) Sanath Panawennage, former Director General of the Clarke Institute, Eng. Kamani Ediriweera, and Eng. Kavindra Jayawardena. The engineering team featured Tarindu Dayaratne, Kavindu Sampe, Udhitha Gayaweera, and Thilina Withanabandara. Today’s launch marks another step forward in Sri Lanka’s growing role in global space technology.
