Tilla
Encyclopedia
Tilla Satellite Launch Center, primary known as Tilla Range, is a (spaceport
) 25 km west of Jhelum
city in Punjab
. The facility is also known as Mashhood Test Firing Range (MTFR). The spaceport has been used as a launch site for the Hypersonic Rocket Launch Vehicle Project (HRLV) and Ghauri ballistic missile
s under development by the Khan Research Laboratories
.
in Jhelum District
, Punjab
, Pakistan
, 3,242 feet above the sea. From the Bunha torrent the range rises rapidly to the culminating peak of Tilla Jogian
and thence sinks as rapidly, but a series of low parallel ridges runs out across the valley of the Kahan. During British Rule
, the hill was sometimes used as a summer resort by officers of Jhelum District. A famous monastery of Jogi fakir
s is situated here.
was built and indigenously constructed by SUPARCO sometime in 1989.
The space facility is based on the model of Chinese space and missile sites, notably Base 603
and Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
. TSLC is a defence launch facility (spaceport
). The facility has been used by Kahuta Research Laboratories
(KRL), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC), Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
(SUPARCO), and China National Space Administration
(CNSA).
Sources also claimed that the Tilla Satellite Launch Center has been used by the People's Republic of China
, and that a large number of Chinese and Pakistan
i scientists have researched and developed space probes there for needed space research of both countries. The Government of Pakistan
has kept Tilla Satellite Launch Center's information and facts in secrecy; much of the information and facts about the space facility, are unknown and unclear.
The spaceport is usually used to launch vehicles into lower and medium orbits with large orbital inclination angles, as well as testing medium to long-range missiles. Its facilities are state of the art and provide support to every phase of a satellite launch campaign. The site includes the Technical Center, high-powered radar system, laser-powered radar and telecommunication complex, the Launch Complex, the Launch Control Center, the Mission Command and Control Center, several launch pads, and various other logistical support systems.
The spaceport was upgraded by SUPARCO in 1998. The spaceport consists of a supercomputer
, missile control system, airborne warning, satellite control room, laser-satellite control system, aerospace control system, electrical communication and information office. The site is also defended by Pakistan Air Force
fighter aircraft
to protect the facility and its scientists from any airborne threat.
Spaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
) 25 km west of Jhelum
Jhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
city in Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. The facility is also known as Mashhood Test Firing Range (MTFR). The spaceport has been used as a launch site for the Hypersonic Rocket Launch Vehicle Project (HRLV) and Ghauri ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
s under development by the Khan Research Laboratories
Khan Research Laboratories
The Khan Research Laboratories ,, formerly known as Engineering Research Laboratories , is a multi-program Pakistan's weapons science and engineering research and development institute and nuclear research facility...
.
Location
Tilla is an eastward continuation of the Salt RangeSalt Range
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha...
in Jhelum District
Jhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, 3,242 feet above the sea. From the Bunha torrent the range rises rapidly to the culminating peak of Tilla Jogian
Tilla Jogian
Tilla Jogian is the highest peak in the Eastern Salt Range in Punjab, Pakistan. At 975 meters above sea level, it is about 25 km to the west of Jhelum city and 10 km west of the model village of Khukha. The view from the top of Tilla is highly rewarding...
and thence sinks as rapidly, but a series of low parallel ridges runs out across the valley of the Kahan. During British Rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, the hill was sometimes used as a summer resort by officers of Jhelum District. A famous monastery of Jogi fakir
Fakir
The fakir or faqir ; ) Derived from faqr is a Muslim Sufi ascetic in Middle East and South Asia. The Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam and living on alms....
s is situated here.
History
The exact timing of construction of Tilla Satellite Launch Center is unknown and unclear. According to science sources from Pakistan, it is believed that the spaceportSpaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
was built and indigenously constructed by SUPARCO sometime in 1989.
The space facility is based on the model of Chinese space and missile sites, notably Base 603
Base 603
Guangde Rocket Launch Site also known as Base 603 is a suborbital launch site that was operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences located in Shijiedu , Shijie Town , Guangde County, Xuancheng Prefecture, Anhui province on the Chinese east coast...
and Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center also known as Base 25 , is a People's Republic of China space and defence launch facility . It is situated in Kelan County, Xinzhou Prefecture, Shanxi Province and is the second of three launch sites having been founded in March 1966 and coming into full...
. TSLC is a defence launch facility (spaceport
Spaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
). The facility has been used by Kahuta Research Laboratories
Kahuta Research Laboratories
The Khan Research Laboratories ,, formerly known as Engineering Research Laboratories , is a multi-program Pakistan's weapons science and engineering research and development institute and nuclear research facility...
(KRL), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC), Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission , is an executive agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible for nation's public and civil space program and aeronautics and aerospace research...
(SUPARCO), and China National Space Administration
China National Space Administration
The China National Space Administration is the national space agency of the People's Republic of China responsible for the national space program. It is responsible for planning and development of space activities...
(CNSA).
Sources also claimed that the Tilla Satellite Launch Center has been used by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, and that a large number of Chinese and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i scientists have researched and developed space probes there for needed space research of both countries. The Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
has kept Tilla Satellite Launch Center's information and facts in secrecy; much of the information and facts about the space facility, are unknown and unclear.
The spaceport is usually used to launch vehicles into lower and medium orbits with large orbital inclination angles, as well as testing medium to long-range missiles. Its facilities are state of the art and provide support to every phase of a satellite launch campaign. The site includes the Technical Center, high-powered radar system, laser-powered radar and telecommunication complex, the Launch Complex, the Launch Control Center, the Mission Command and Control Center, several launch pads, and various other logistical support systems.
The spaceport was upgraded by SUPARCO in 1998. The spaceport consists of a supercomputer
Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation.Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling A supercomputer is a...
, missile control system, airborne warning, satellite control room, laser-satellite control system, aerospace control system, electrical communication and information office. The site is also defended by Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
to protect the facility and its scientists from any airborne threat.