Musharraf Outlines Vision For Pakistan's Space Program

[kashifshahzad]

Musharraf Outlines Vision For Pakistan's Space Program

KARACHI, February 04 (Online): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday outlined his vision for Pakistan's Space Programme by laying down a clearly defined agenda for the national space agency SUPARCO to pursue and deliver in minimum time.



The President said that as an established and well recognized nuclear and missile power, Pakistan's graduation to a power in space technology must be the next logical frontier in taking Pakistan forward in the comity of technologically advanced nations of the world. He said Space was a common heritage of mankind and Pakistan will carve out a niche for itself in the peaceful exploitation and use of space for the benefit of its people.

The President was speaking to the scientists and engineers of Pakistan's space agency SUPARCO during a visit to SUPARCO's Plant near Karachi. The President said that Pakistan needed to make up for lost time and neglect of the past.

His government had put the space programme up front and n a fast track by taking a number of initiatives like revitalization, restructuring, reorientation and modernization of SUPARCO and bringing it at par with other strategic organizations, investment in human resource development, assigning of a clear vision to be achieved in the areas of communications satellites, remote sensing satellites, satellite launch vehicles, with the objective of bringing rapid growth and socio economic development in the fields of mass education, information technology, communications, agriculture, mineral development, atmospheric sciences, environment and pollution monitoring, etc.

The President said that it was incumbent of the SUPARCO that with all the financial and administrative backing of the government, it must deliver on the objectives of the space vision. He was confident that Pakistan would in the near future emerge strongly on the space map of the world and would be able to derive the necessary benefits for its people. Earlier on arrival, the President was given a briefing by Chairman SUPARCO Major General (Retd) Raza Hussain. He visited the various laboratories and facilities and appreciated the renewed vigour, dedication and motivation of the young engineers working on different projects.

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=92655

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[XEROX]

Good for Pakistan, more nations in space the better (as long as its not aiding future ICBM programs), if Pakistan does decide to launch small satellites i presuming it would be through substantial help from China, ASLVs would be preferred for launching the satellites

btw guys the Indian GSLV-MK III should be launch ready in 2 years time carrying heavier (up to 6,000kg) INSAT sats


:coffee

 

[kashifshahzad]

:coffee More satellites in the space,more better communication system will be and a smoother way to ICBM's i think

 

[A Khan]

As the President said:

Pakistan will carve out a niche for itself in the peaceful exploitation and use of space for the benefit of its people.

ICBM's not in the near future. Primary objective with regards to space tech should be, better communication, better imagery, improved weathersatelites and maybe somesort of a tsunami warning satellite system. If we can achieve these things then we can start thinking about military related uses. But better communication and imagery can be used for both military and civilian purposes.

The reason why i'm more focused on the civilian uses is because then it will be easier for pakistan to get help from other nations. If the primary focus is on the military uses, then "sanctions on the space tech related firms" and etc... besides too expensive for us at the moment.

 

[XEROX]

you see it all depends on the launch vehicle to launch these types of satellites, the more heavier and complicated the sat the heavier and more complex the system, I don’t know how capable Pakistan is in developing its launch vehicle, but its a process that takes time, just look at the Indian ISRO, they started with SLV in the 70s, ASLV in the 80s, PSLV in the 90s and now Indiunication satalites will be good for pakistan as it will develop its infastructa is on the GSLV which can take much heavier communication satellites into orbit, the payload of the SLV at that time took 50 kg while today’s upper GSLV can take over 4000 kg

Launching its own communication satellites for example will be good for its infrastructure and give valuable expertise for future launches

what I completely disagree with is how Musharaf says it should be done in quick time, I don’t think so

 

[kashifshahzad]

:coffee As far as I know is that Pakistan do have its own launch vahicle or do not have a lounching pad it uses other countries launching pad the position for launching is located in Tajikistan i think if i am not wrong this information is right

 

[aaaditya]

pakistan doesnt have its own launch vehicle but had developed a leo(low earth orbit communications satellite).pakistan acquired the pluton sounding rockets from france but they converted them to hatf1 missile.