Ecuador launches first homemade satellite

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador launches first homemade satellite
Apr 26, 2013

Ecuador launched its first satellite into space from China Friday morning, in a moment broadcast live on radio and television back home.

The "Pegaso" (Pegasus) nanosatellite, designed and built in Ecuador, set off aboard an unmanned rocket at 0413 GMT from the Jiuquand station in northern China.

Measuring just 10 by 10 by 75 centimeters (four by four by 30 inches), and weighing 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds), Pegaso will beam live video images back to Earth from an onboard camera.

"Welcome to the heavens, Pegaso. Welcome to space Ecuador. The mission is a success," said Ronnie Nader, Ecuador's first and only astronaut, who runs Ecuador's civilian space agency.

The Ecuadoran Space Agency plans a second satellite launch in July.

http://phys.org/news/2013-04-ecuador-homemade-satellite_1.html#jCp

(Short article, no more at link.)

[drm604]

1. That headline, which was not written by you, makes it sound like it was made in somebody's basement.

I'm pretty sure that the thing was not homemade.

[Judi Lynn]

4. It was an odd choice of words, reminiscent of projects like Frankenstein.

[center][/center]

[ocpagu]

2. So good to know.

Congratulations Ecuador!

I found this video of President Correa commenting on the launching. He seems very happy.

[Judi Lynn]

5. He is absolutely beaming, happy, and relieved, almost bubbling over.

No doubt he and others were nervous wrecks waiting to see if the launch was successful.

They are on their way. It's a great step forward for Ecuador.

Thanks for that video!

[leveymg]

3. Looks like a Brownie Box Camera mated with a slide projector. Como se dice, "compacto"?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Uncanny Brownie camera resemblance! Very cute. Thanks for posting the image. n/t

[drm604]

7. If you think about it,

it's actually impressive that this could be done with something so small. It looks like the bulk of it is solar panels.

[Judi Lynn]

8. It's a little overwhelming, imagining this tiny thing making its own way

through the ethers!

Hope it functions well for Ecuador.