Venesat-1, also known as Simón Bolívar, is the first Venezuelan satellite. It is a communications satellite, which will be operated from a geosynchronous orbit. It was launched on a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket, from LA-2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, at 16:53 GMT on 29 October 2008. Read more
Chavez cherishes his Chinese-built satellite Last October, a new Chinese-built US$241 million communications satellite called Simon Bolivar or Venesat-1 was launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern China on a CZ-3B rocket.
Venezuela launches satellite IT centres, but is it making full use of Venesat-1? Venezuelas Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities has reported that four community ICT info-centres have been opened in the states of Falcon, Monagas, Tachira and Aragua, which are directly connected to the Simon Bolivar (Venesat-1) satellite launched by the country in cooperation with China in October 2008. The space agency added that there are 50 info-centres either currently or lined up to be connected via Venesat-1, providing free access to internet and telecoms services. A total of 653 info-centres are part of a network of 3,187 community technology centres. The states goal is to serve all remote community facilities via Venesat-1.
Venezuela will make its first radio and television transmission through the Simon Bolivar satellite on January 10, announced the minister of science and technology, Nuris Orihuela. The official pointed out that that day transmission by radio and television will be done by the first Venezuelan satellite, its control of VENESAT-1 Simon Bolivar, launched from China last October.
Chinese and Venezuelan scientists hovered over radar screens, a Russian combat jet flew overhead and satellite dishes tilted toward the skies as Venezuela tracked the launch of its first satellite on Wednesday.