Argentina Launches Its First Home-Built Satellite
Argentina Launches Its First Home-Built Satellite
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Oct 16, 2014, 5:55 PM ET
Argentina has launched its first domestically built communications satellite.
The ARSAT-1 satellite launched Thursday is the first to be constructed with local technology in Latin America. It was built by a crew of about 500 scientists over seven years at a cost of $250 million.
The satellite was launched from a base in French Guyana and is to orbit 22,000 (36,000 kilometers) above Earth.
It's designed to provide digital television and cellphone services to Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
ARSAT-1 is also expected to improve telephone and Internet connections in remote places, including for scientists are working in the Antarctic region.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/argentina-launches-home-built-satellite-26255651
(Short article, no more at link.)