[FPSPACE] Uncertainty shrouds South African Satellite

[Keith Gottschalk]

hi,

the news stories linked talk about "using a Russian military satellite"
but say not a word about any "related with building Russian TT&C Station
at SA."

   Pending more hard facts, all this seems weird to me. What on earth
use could South Africa make of a Russian military satellite? It is at
peace in a common market with its neighbours - not exactly a need for
imagery intelligence!

   South Africa's own TT&C stations regularly download encrypted data
for paying foreign clients, which it hands over to them undeciphered. So
I am bursting with curiosity - but have no more facts.

Keith

>>>> "Baris Gencay" <baris.gencay at gmail.com> 02/18/08 11:19 AM >>>
>http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4256508 
>
>The link above suggests that Sumbandilasat may be launched from India
or China. That means, satellite doesn't have 
>obvious parts which can be hurdle to launch from these 2 countries.
The Russian reasons to refuse the launch sounds 
>related with building Russian TT&C Station at SA. Most probably,
Russians proposed SA to use the satellite data free of 
>charge or even for a less price. And SA didn't accept.
>
>Can anybody make comment?
>
>http://www.sabcnews.com/sci_tech/science/0,2172,164128,00.html 
>
>Another link above is another source that mentioned about the same
development.

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