[FPSPACE] Chinese-Namibian space link-up

[Keith Gottschalk]

thanks, JimO,

   for broadcasting this one on the Chinese manned spaceflight tracking station in namibia.  There has been not a word of it in South Africa, although Namibia is our next door neighbour. Our media copytasters clearly know that only sports & Britney Spears sells, not our geeky, idiosyncratic passion for astronomy & astronautics  
 < grin >

    My 1st reaction was wondering why South Africa lost out to Namibia, when we already have a radio-telescope & much associated peripherals at Hartesbeeshoek just north of Pretoria. But I think the details of where the orbit swoops over Africa's west coast answers that one.   

    For non-South Africans, Swakopmund is just north of Walvis Bay port on your map of Namibia or Africa. And as a bonus for the Chinese staff, Swakopmund is a popular beach resort, with a climate like the pacific coast just south of your border with Mexico.