[Satellite Today 10-31-08] China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) launched Venezuelan’s first satellite, Simon Bolivar (Venesat-1), Oct. 30, according to Xinhua.
    The satellite was placed in orbit by a Long March 3B launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite launch center in Sichuan province. Venesat-1 is based on the DFH-4 bus and was manufactured by CASC under an agreement signed in November 2005.
    The satellite will be used for government and military communications and give remote areas of Venezuela access to telephone communications, fax, videoconferencing, high-speed Internet, radio, tele-medicine and tele-education.