Employees Unknown (2008) Website SUPARCO home page Jurisdiction Government of Pakistan | Parent agency SUPARCO Local time Monday 4:59 AM | |
Formed November 21, 1961; 55 years ago (1961-11-21) Headquarters SUPARCO HEADQUARTERS, in Karachi, Pakistan. Annual budget See the budget of SUPARCO Weather 24°C, Wind W at 11 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
Sonmiani Spaceport is located at Sonmiani, Balochistan province in Pakistan, approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Karachi. Sonmiani is noted for its space research and development. The space facility is operated by Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) of Pakistan.
History
Sonmiani Termial Launch is a launch site (spaceport) approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Karachi, Pakistan. The facility became operational in late 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 extensively used by NASA to conduct research in Space and rocket technology. Sonmiani Satellite Launch Center was Pakistan'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 the 1980s, when Pakistan began to pursue space technology. During the 1990s, the facility was expanded and modernized. In the 2000s, the facility was equipped by SUPARCO as the organization installed the high-tech computer and modernized electrical technology. The port has facilities only for launching sounding rockets with sub-orbital payloads.