Sonmiani Flight Test Range
Template:Short description Template:Use Pakistani English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Cleanup-rewrite {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Infobox Government agency The Flight Test Range (FTR) at Sonmiani Beach is a rocket launch site in Balochistan, approximately Template:Convert west of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.<ref name="astronautix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The facility is operated by the Space Research Commission since 1961, initially focusing on supporting civilian space program involving the launch of sounding rockets but its present mission has now been moved towards military programs.Template:Rp<ref name="University of Washington Press, Mistry, 2003">Dinshaw, Mistry, Containing Missile Proliferation: Strategic Technology, Security Regimes, and International Cooperation in Arms Control (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003), p. 118</ref><ref name="Sonmiani Flight Test Range, NTI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Initially established at Sonmiani Rocket Range<ref name="Histroy by Suparco">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in 1961, the Sonmiani Flight Test Range is the only rocket launch facility operated by the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.Template:Rp<ref name="KnowledgeWorld .Nair, 2006">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="FAS, Pakistan bureau">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was the crucial contribution from the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that established the facility in 1961 with Suparco launching the Rehbar-I program that consisted of a Nike-Cajun combination on 7 June 1962.<ref name="Histroy by Suparco"/>Template:Rp<ref name="University of Washington Press, Mistry, 2003" /><ref name="astronautix" />
In 1989, the Sonmiani FTR mission moved from supporting the civilian space program towards also supporting the military program when Hatf-I (lit. Target) was launched from the facility.<ref name="astronautix" /> Since 1990, the Sonmiani FTR has been expanded and modernized that now includes several rocket launch sites, a rocket assembly and a maintenance workshop; a payload assembly area; high-speed tracking radars with a control room and telemetry station; flight communications equipment and optical cameras.<ref>“Missile Flight Tests,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 31 January 2011, www.iiss.org.</ref> It is currently spread across Template:Convert.<ref name="Sonmiani Flight Test Range, NTI" />
The Sonmani FTR, not a space center, now serves as a primary launch site for Pakistani military's missile testing program, namely launching the Hatf program (Target), including four tests of Hatf-II, two of Hatf-III, seven of Hatf-IV and five of Hatf-VI.<ref>“Missile Flight Tests,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 31 January 2011, www.iiss.org.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See also
References
External links
Template:Pakistanspaceagency Template:Pakistan Air Force main Template:Spaceport Template:Lasbela-Union-Councils