RazakSat, earth observation satellite, to be launched this year

Kualalumpur, Malaysia, 26 March 2007: RazakSat, earth observation satellite, which is to monitor floods, landslides, open burning, river pollution and some other disasters, will be launched this year in conjunction with the country's 50th Independence Day celebration.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis said the Government had chosen the launcher manufactured by an American-based company, Space X. "We are targeting to launch it this year in conjunction with the 50th Independence Day celebrations. We are at the final stage of commissioning our launcher," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the Malaysian Indian ICT Conference here on Monday.

Jamaludin said he would see the launcher, ,which was manufactured in Los Angeles, after attending the biotech show, BIO International Convention, in Boston in May. "We will check with them when it will be ready. We have told them that we want to reschedule the launch to this year. They promised to complete it this year," he added.

The launch of RazakSat, which is maufactured by Astronautics Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB), is to be from the Kwajeilin Island in the Pacific Ocean. He said the American space launcher was cheaper and smaller than a Russian space launcher.

"That's why we want it. It is capable of carrying a load of 200kilo. If we use the Russian launcher, it is too expensive for a remote sensing satellite and can carry between 4 tonnes or 5 tonnes or 4,000kilo or 5,000kilos."

source: http://thestar.com.my/news