- Title: VENEZUELA: Excitement high as Venezuela and China launch a satellite
- Date: 30th September 2012
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2012) (REUTERS). PEOPLE CHEERING THE LAUNCH OF THE SATELLITE FIREWORKS PEOPLE CELEBRATING
- Embargoed: 15th October 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: International Relations,Science / Technology
- Reuters ID: LVA9ZFEZP9NSAJUJRTMSFVAS776C
- Story Text: President Hugo Chavez said the launch on Friday (September 28) of Venezuela's second satellite showed the achievements of his self-styled revolution just days before he seeks re-election.
Crowds gathered in Caracas' museum district to watch the video link-up between the presidential palace and a launch centre in China's Gobi Desert. Excitement was high among the cheering throng.
"With this launch, we are going to have independence with everything having to do with with mapping, the geographic information systems that we use for studying. Not only at the agricultural level, but to go forward - cadastral mapping, various areas that we can see," said Trino Baloa, who was among the group.
Chavez stayed inside the palace to watch, but spoke to the nation on state TV.
"The satellite is the product of this Chinese-Venezuelan brotherhood and a long process of coming together politically, technologically and economically," he said after standing to applaud.
A dozen Venezuelan officials were at China's Jiuquan launch centre, near the Mongolian border, to watch the rocket carrying the "Miranda" satellite blast off into a clear blue sky.
Venezuelan state TV had broadcast hours of build-up alongside the headline "Space Revolution ... a Sovereign View."
With the election fast-approaching, the satellite launch took on a political tone as opponent Henrique Capriles said it was a prime example of what he calls grandiose plans that prove Chavez is out of touch with voters.
"How many Venezuelans sleep in a refuge tonight? How many towns without an ambulance? Another satellite for the candidate of continuity. On Oct. 7 this will change," he said on Twitter.
In 2008, China launched Venezuela's first satellite - the Venesat-1, or "Simon Bolivar" - to carry communications gear.
The second spacecraft will take photographs that Chavez's government says will help it protect the environment, improve urban planning and crack down on illegal mining and drug cultivation.
Both satellites were named after 19th-century South American independence heroes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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