Venezuela: "Satellite for Freedom"

Venezuela launches first satellite with Chinese technology by Staff Writers Caracas (AFP) Oct 29, 2008 Venezuela entered the space age Wednesday as its first satellite, built with Chinese technology and launched from China, blasted into orbit. Named after Simon Bolivar, the hero of South American independence, the communications satellite Venesat-1 is a "construction of socialism" and a symbol of Latin American integration, according Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Chavez, accompanied by fellow leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales, monitored the launch from the eastern town of Luepa, and afterwards praised the operation as an example of socialist virtues. "A capitalist business launches a satellite to make money. This is an act of freedom and independence," Chavez said. "This satellite is not for us but for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a further step towards independence," he said, adding that the project would break the mold of "technological illiteracy." During its 15-year lifespan the Simon Bolivar satellite will cover Venezuela's "brother countries" to streamline telecommunications and develop "social programs such as literacy or telemedicine," according to Science and Technology Minister Nuris Orihuela. The satellite, the construction of which began in 2002, cost Venezuela 241 million dollars, along with 165 million dollars for two communication headquarters. The Simon Bolivar will orbit the Earth at 36,000 kilometers (22,300 miles). The signal from the 5.1 tonne satellite, which will be fully operational by January 2009, will extend from southern Mexico to southern Argentina and Chile. Chavez, a staunch foe of the United States, rejected calls from Washington for China to suspend the launch, and described the move as part of Washington's "obsession to conquer the world." "The Chinese government's response was that there was no reason to suspend the launch," added Chavez. Bolivia's Morales congratulated his counterpart after the launch. "I think this telecommunications satellite is a human right for the nations of South America and the Caribbean, and should not a private enterprise," said Morales. The satellite's manufacturing, launching and placing into orbit by China as part of an agreement on technological cooperation further strengthens relationships between the two strategic partners, said the Veneuelan government. Venezuela intends to launch its second satellite, for its own use, in 2013, according to the technical manager of the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE), Rodolfo Navarro.

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YouTube | October 30, 2008

Tags:. .technological. .science. .operational. .earth. .china