The construction of the second earth satellite station, here must be completed in the near future before the national satellite project, RazakSat2, is expected to be launched by next year at the latest.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations (Mosti), Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said the earth station, built on a 2.9 hectare site at a cost of about RM27.5 million, was most important as the launch of the RazakSat2, among other things, depended on the completion of the earth station.
He said the earth station would function as the control center and communication center for the earth orbiting satellite in space.
“This is going to be our first functioning satellite because the first satellite is no longer functioning,” he told reporters after visiting the construction site for the earth station at Kampung Laya-Laya in Tuaran, today.
Also present were Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Borhan Dolah, National Science Center Director Anita Bahari and Tuaran District Officer Abdul Mohd Ibnu Abdul Kadir Baba as well as several senior government officials.
Commenting further, Madius said Tuaran was chosen as the location for the earth station in view of the geographical factor and that there was available land suitable for the development of the facility.
