Beijing (PTI): Venezuela's first satellite will be launched by China in November as part of an ambitious space programme with the communist space giant.
The Chinese-made satellite, Simon Bolivar, named after Venezuela's independence hero, is for broadcast and telecommunications purposes and is due to be launched on Nov 2, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said.
The satellite would benefit Venezuela's communication systems, particularly TV and the Internet, and help to improve education and healthcare in the nation, Chavez said in his weekly TV and radio programme Alo, Presidente, the state media reported here.
Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Zhang Tuo was a guest on the programme, during which Chavez thanked China for supporting the project.
Zhang hailed the satellite project as "an example of cooperation" between the two countries.
Chavez said his programme would be broadcast by the new satellite from November.
But the Venezuelan leader said the Simon Bolivar satellite was just half of the story, as the nation is seeking to build a second satellite to help map the vast South American country.
"Who has got great multicoloured maps of Venezuela? The Yankees," the feisty leader, known for his anti-US stance, said.
"Now we are going to have our own. We have to get ready to launch the second satellite, which should be for observation, for images."
Venezuelan officials said the second satellite would likely be launched from China in 2013.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 : 1000 Hrs
© 2008, The Hindu.
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