Venezuela Mars mission after 2030: Chavez
February 11th, 2012 - 7:59 am ICT by IANSMexico City, Feb 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez said Friday his country would be able to send a mission to Mars after 2030.
“Venezuela has stepped onto the road to space,” Chavez said on national television. “Nobody has ever reached Mars but Venezuela will. It’s our goal for 2030-2040.”
The announcement comes at a time when Venezuela is preparing to send a second satellite into Earth’s orbit with Chinese aid.
Chavez unveiled Friday a model of the satellite, named Miranda after Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda who fought for independence of Spanish American colonies.
The $140-million Earth observation satellite will be used to monitor troop movements and illegal mining as well as study climate change and the environment.
The launch has been set for October 2012, four years after the launch of Simon Bolivar, the first-ever Venezuelan satellite also built with Chinese assistance.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
snb
- Cancer-hit Chavez to leave Cuba next week - Mar 09, 2012
- Replica of Bolivar's sword presented to fencing champ - Aug 09, 2012
- I'm soaring like condor after surgery: Chavez - Mar 01, 2012
- Syria should resolve crisis on its own: Chavez - Aug 02, 2012
- Chavez sees US hand in Russia protests - Dec 29, 2011
- Chavez to rule Venezuela from Bedouin tent - Dec 11, 2010
- Russia to send man to moon by 2030 - Apr 28, 2012
- Hugo Chavez gives house to Twitter follower - Jun 01, 2012
- Chavez sends letter to Gaddafi wishing him victory - Aug 07, 2011
- Belarus to help build space facility in Venezuela - Jul 05, 2012
- Venezuelan president has just one year to live - Jan 24, 2012
- Russian military satellite falls in Pacific - Apr 08, 2012
- Venezuelan president wants Carter to join Libya mission - Mar 05, 2011
- Chavez cancer confirmation stuns Venezuela - Jul 01, 2011
- Russia plans three space launches in August - Jul 30, 2011
Tags: chinese assistance, city feb, earth observation satellite, francisco de miranda, hugo chavez, launch, mars mission, mexico city, mission to mars, national television, orbit, ria novosti, simon bolivar, snb, spanish american colonies, study climate change, troop movements, venezuela, venezuelan