- Title: CHINA: China launches communications satellite for Pakistan
- Date: 13th August 2011
- Summary: XICHANG, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (AUGUST 12, 2011) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA) VARIOUS OF ROCKET BEING LAUNCHED FROM STATION WORKERS MONITORING ROCKET TRACK IN CONTROL ROOM WORKERS VARIOUS OF ANIMATION SHOWING PROCESS OF SATELLITE SEPARATING FROM ROCKET WORKERS WATCHING SCREEN IN CONTROL ROOM PAKISTANI AND CHINESE OFFICIALS CHINESE AND PAKISTANI OFFICI
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- Keywords:
- Location: China, China
- Country: China
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Technology,Space
- Reuters ID: LVA3JMUE9N36VC6SSOXOJQ8Q4Z55
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: China on Friday (August 12) launched a communications satellite for its neighbour and ally Pakistan in its first in-orbit delivery for an Asian customer, Chinese state news reported.
The satellite PAKSAT-1R was a cooperative project and was built in China by Chinese and Pakistani engineers, symbolic of the two countries' close ties.
State news agency Xinhua said the satellite successfully separated from its Long March-3B carrier rocket in southwest Sichuan province, to enter geostationary transfer orbit on schedule, 26 minutes after launch.
Chief Satellite Engineer Wei Qiang said the experience will help the Pakistani engineers in their future projects when they return to their home country.
"The Pakistanis have been involved in the process from the very beginning, the experience will help a lot in their own research and building of satellites," he said.
Chinese state television CCTV said the cooperation agreement will see China provide training and help to build two ground observation and control stations in Pakistan.
The vice president of Pakistan's Out Air Space Committee said the team worked well together.
"(We have been) working like friends and brothers. So we are fully satisfied with the kind of cooperation and the working environment provided to us by our Chinese counterparts," he said.
China has long treated Pakistan as a counterweight to the influence of India and its ally, the United States and Pakistan has in turn increasingly turned to China as a balance to U.S. influence.
The Associated Press of Pakistan said the satellite, which replaces the 15-year-old PAKSAT-1, will extend services across Pakistan and provide television broadcasting, internet and data communication services to southern and central Asia, eastern Europe, east Africa and the Middle East.
Xinhua said it was also China's first commercial satellite export for international users this year. - Copyright Holder: CCTV (China) - NO RESALE MAINLAND CHINA
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