Sonmiani (space facility)

Sonmiani is a coastal town in the southeast of Balochistan province in Pakistan, approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi. The coast of Sonmiani is the northernmost point of the Arabian Sea. The town also serves as a Union Council of Hub Tehsil.^[1] Sonmiani is noted for its space research and development. There is a space center/spaceport, which is known as Sonmiani center, is situated at Sonmiani District.

History

Sonmiani Termial Launch is a launch site (spaceport) approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi, Pakistan. The facility became operational in late 1962. Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was planned and constructed by U.S.'s space agency, NASA in the early 1962s when a team of NASA's engineers visited Pakistan.

Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was extensively used by NASA to conduct research in Space and rocket technology. Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was South Asia's first space research center and launch facility.^{[citation needed]}

The area hosts a 2 square kilometre flight test range and that has been operated since 1962 by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). In the 1980s, when Pakistan began to pursue space technology. During the 1990s, the facility was expanded and modernized. In the 2000s, the facility was equipped by SUPARCO as the organization installed the high-tech computer and modernized electrical technology.

See also

• Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
• Tilla Satellite Launch Center

References

External links

• SUPARCO official website
• Astronautix.com page on Sonmiani

Coordinates: 25°12′N 66°45′E / 25.200°N 66.750°E / 25.200; 66.750