Sonmiani
Encyclopedia
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. Sonmiani is noted for its space
research and development
. There is a a space center
/spaceport
, which is known as Sonmiani center, is situated at Sonmiani District.
) approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi
, Pakistan
. The facility became operational in the late of 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 extensivily 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.
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 1980s, when Pakistan
began to pursue space technology
. During 1990s, the facility was expanded and modernized. In 2000s, the facility was equipped by SUPARCO as the organization installed the high-tech computer
and a modernized electrical technology.
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
province in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. The coast of Sonmiani is the northernmost point of the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. The town also serves as a Union Council
Union Councils of Pakistan
A sherwan or village council in Pakistan is an elected local government body consisting of 21 councillors, and headed by a nazim and a naib nazim...
of Hub Tehsil. Sonmiani is noted for its space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
. There is a a space center
Space center
A space center is a place dedicated to space activity. It may be in public or private ownership.These activities may concern:* Research* Manufacturing of major parts of space vehicles* Launch of space vehicles* in orbit control of space vehicles...
/spaceport
Spaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
, which is known as Sonmiani center, is situated at Sonmiani District.
Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center
Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center (spaceportSpaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
) approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The facility became operational in the late of 1962. Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was planned and constructed by U.S.'s space agency, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in the early 1962s when a team of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's engineers visited Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was extensivily used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
to conduct research in Space and rocket technology. Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
's first space research center and launch facility.
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
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission , is an executive agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible for nation's public and civil space program and aeronautics and aerospace research...
(SUPARCO). In 1980s, when Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
began to pursue space technology
Space technology
Space technology is technology that is related to entering, and retrieving objects or life forms from space."Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, GPS systems, satellite television, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure...
. During 1990s, the facility was expanded and modernized. In 2000s, the facility was equipped by SUPARCO as the organization installed the high-tech computer
Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation.Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling A supercomputer is a...
and a modernized electrical technology.
See also
- Space and Upper Atmosphere Research CommissionSpace and Upper Atmosphere Research CommissionThe Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission , is an executive agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible for nation's public and civil space program and aeronautics and aerospace research...
- Tilla Satellite Launch CenterTillaTilla Satellite Launch Center, primary known as Tilla Range, is a 25 km west of Jhelum city in Punjab. The facility is also known as Mashhood Test Firing Range...