--- On Thu, 11/8/11, Nigel A. Gunn, W8IFF/G8IFF nigel@ngunn.net wrote:

What's Pakistan just launched that's currently at 21700 miles?

PakSat-1R. 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- Pakistan's PakSat-1R geostationary communications satellite was today launched into space by a Chinese rocket from a site in southwest China.

The satellite was carried into space by a Long March-3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province late on Thursday night.

PakSat-1R was built by scientists and engineers from Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission with technical guidance and financial aid from China National Space Administration.

The launch was witnessed by a group of Pakistani officials, including Strategic Plans Division chief Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan and SUPARCO chief Maj Gen Ahmed Bilal.

The satellite carries a communication payload to facilitate the launch of a several new services, including broadband Internet, digital television broadcasts, remote and rural telephony, emergency communications, tele-education and tele-medicine.

PakSat-1R is expected to have a lifespan of 15 years and will be operated from SUPARCO’s satellite ground stations in Lahore and Karachi.