Bengkulu govt to survey site for satellite launching station

Antara News, Sunday, October 17, 2010 21:27 WIB

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - The Bengkulu provincial government will soon survey a location for a satellite launching station in Enggano island in North Bengkulu district.

A proposal for the budget of the project had been made in the revised 2010 statebudget, Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Development Planning Board M Nasyah said on Sunday.

The provincial government and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) signed an agreement in August this year to build a satellite launching station in Bengkulu.

Under the agreement, both sides will form a team of officers to conduct a number of studies and surveys to decide a location for the satellite launching station,he said.

"The LAPAN team will conduct the survey, including a six-month feasibility study andan environmental impact analysis. Hopefully, work on the construction of theproject will start in 2011," he said.

Meanwhile, chief of the Enggano Customary Institute Pa`buki Rafli Zen Kaitora asked the government to familiarize the local people with the plan to build the satellite launching station in Enggano island.

He said he found out about the plan from the local media when he was in Bengkulu city."The Enggano people has not been told about the plan," he said.

Analysts believe Bolden may hold talks on possible co-operation
in space with China during his six-day visit [AP]

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