Outside the Beltway

Bolivia has its Own Satellite

Steven L. Taylor
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Via the BBC:  Bolivian crowds cheer Tupak Katari satellite launch

The satellite is named Tupak Katari, after an indigenous hero who fought Spanish colonial rule.

Bolivia is one of the last countries in South America to have its own satellite.

President Evo Morales, who was in China for the launch, said it would end Bolivia’s dependence on foreign powers for its communications.

[…]

The launch took place at 12:42 Bolivian time (16:42 GMT) from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China’s southwest Sichuan province.

[…]

The device, weighing more than 5.2 tonnes, will speed up and improve the quality of telephone and internet connections in Bolivia.

And, of course, being in space is cool.

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8 responses to “Bolivia has its Own Satellite”

  1. Tillman Avatar
    Tillman

    I think this is my American privilege talking, but I honestly didn’t know Bolivia didn’t have a satellite.

  2. Andre Kenji Avatar
    Andre Kenji

    @Tillman: Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. There are unpleasant stories of Bolivians being used as slave labor in the garment industry of São Paulo.

  3. Tillman Avatar
    Tillman

    @Andre Kenji: Yup, definitely my gringo privilege.

  4. Andre Kenji Avatar
    Andre Kenji

    @Tillman: Ironically, they prefer to burn the :Brazilian Flag instead of burning the American flag. That´s also why Evo Morales whined so much when his plane was stopped in Europe during the Snowden affair.

  5. ernieyeball Avatar
    ernieyeball

    And, of course, being in space is cool.

    When I saw Kubric’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1969 I had real expectations that 32 years later Shuttle Service to the Moon and beyond would be routine.
    I guess I can’t predict the future any better than Nostradamus.

  6. Ari Rottenberg Avatar
    Ari Rottenberg

    [quote]President Evo Morales, who was in China for the launch, said it would end Bolivia’s dependence on foreign powers for its communications.[/quote]

    Last I checked, China was a foreign power.

  7. BIll Avatar
    BIll

    @ernieyeball:

    When I saw Kubric’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1969 I had real expectations that 32 years later Shuttle Service to the Moon and beyond would be routine.

    And there would be a Howard Johnson’s restaurant in Orbit. Now there are only two places you can get those 32 flavors of ice cream at.

  8. Thane Eichenauer Avatar
    Thane Eichenauer

    But does Bolivia have sharks with laser beams dangit!

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