China to build remote sensing satellites for Pakistan and Venezuela
December 5, 2016
Chinese space scientists will construct and launch two remote sensing satellites for foreign countries over the next two years, according to state-owned newspaper China Daily.
China Great Wall Industry Corp, the country's only authorized firm for international space collaboration, will launch Venezuela's second remote sensing satellite next year and Pakistan's first remote sensing satellite in 2018, said Fu Zhiheng, vice president of Great Wall Industry.
"Preparation work for the Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite 2 project is proceeding according to schedule," Fu told China Daily. "The contract for the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite 1 project was signed earlier this year and will be fulfilled in 2018."
The two satellites are being developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, Fu said.
The Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite 2 is the third Chinese satellite designed for the South American country, following the Venesat-1 communications satellite that was launched in 2008 and the Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite 1, launched in 2012.
The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite 1 is the second Chinese satellite to be used by Pakistan. Earlier, China developed the PakSat-1R communications satellite that was launched in 2011.
Remote sensing satellites are used for weather forecasting, observing Earth, surveying land resources or monitoring oceans.
Fu noted that some other countries that already use Chinese satellites are in talks with Great Wall Industry to expand their fleets.
China has previously exported 11 satellites to nine countries, including Bolivia, Nigeria and Laos.
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