Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday launched the South Asian Communication Satellite or GSAT-9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

 

 The satellite, which has a mission life of 12 years, will provide communication and disaster report to the South Asian countries. While, initially, all eight South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries were meant to be part of the project, Pakistan opted out claiming it had its own space programme. 

 

 ISRO's GSAT-9 satellite cost over Rs. 200 crore has been been carried by the rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09), which is a three stage rocket weighing 450 tons.

Congratulating the ISRO team who worked on the satellite, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the successful launch was a historic moment and that It opened up new horizons of engagement.

"This will greatly benefit South Asia and our region’s progress," PM Modi tweeted. </s> Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of South Asia satellite. “Congratulations to @isro for successful launch of #SouthAsiaSatellite. PM @narendramodi ji has taken regional cooperation to greater heights,” Parrikar tweeted.

In a first, India yesterday successfully launched a South Asia Satellite to provide communications and disaster support to neighbouring countries, a space initiative described as a “giant and historic step” in boosting regional cooperation.

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now </s> The 28-hour countdown has begun for Friday's launch of India's GSAT-9, the South Asia Communication Satellite that will boost connectivity among nations in the region.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 135km from Chennai.

GSAT-9, considered as a 'gift' to its South Asian neighbours, is all set to ride piggyback on the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.

ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, "We have the launch tomorrow at 4.57pm IST in the evening... All activities are going on smoothly."

The GSLV-F09 carrying GSAT-9 will blast off from the second launch pad at the the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

"The 28-hour countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57pm IST [Thursday]," the ISRO Chairman said.

Seven of the eight SAARC countries - India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, are a part of the project. Pakistan had decided to opt out, stating "it has its own space programme."

The satellite, costing around Rs. 235 crores, is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a "gift from India."

On his 'Mann ki baat' programme on Sunday last, PM Modi had announced that the South Asia Satellite would be India's "priceless gift" to its neighbouring countries.

"On May 5, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project," PM Modi had said.

On future launches, Kumar said, ISRO would launch the GSLV MK III variant which would be followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.

Further, ISRO would launch Chandrayaan-II in the beginning of next year, he added.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana. </s> Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its historic 100th Satellite PSLV-C40/ CARTOSAT-2 SERIES from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Friday. The 30 other satellites include two satellites from India and 28 others from six countries United States, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The mission is unique one with satellites being launched in two orbits. </s> Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s communication satellite GSAT-9 on-board GSLV-F09 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the satellite as India's “space gift for South Asia”. Pic/PTI

 

India successfully launched, in copy book style, the South Asia Satellite, intended to serve "economic and developmental priorities" of South Asian nations, using its heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09).

Precisely at 4.57 p.m., the GSLV-F09 rose into the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, carrying the satellite, intended as an Indian Gift for its fellow Saarc nations except for Pakistan which had opted out.

The 49-metre, 415 tonne rocket slung the 2,230 kg satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, from where it would be taken up to its final geostationary orbit.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tasked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for use by the Saarc countries.

Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite was initially known as the Saarc satellite. But with Pakistan deciding to keep out, it is called the South Asia Satellite. With a life span of over 12 years, its objective is to provide communication applications in Ku-band for the user nations.

The satellite, with its 12-Ku band transponders-transmitters and receivers of radio signals, will enable telecommunication, tele-education and tele-medicine as well as mapping of natural resources.

It would also provide/augment internet connectivity and would be useful in disaster management.

Modi has said the South Asia Satellite would go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region," he said.

"It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia... It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he had said.

According to an official, the ISRO decided to have electric power for the satellite.

"We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites," the official told IANS.

He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch in 2018.

The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The core of the first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second is the liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.

One of the spin off benefits for India through this launch is that in the international satellite launch market, GSLV-Mk II rocket may gain the confidence of potential customers.

India puts into orbit foreign satellites for a fee, using its lighter rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However the weight of third party satellites is not much.

Revenue for launching satellites depends on weight of the satellite - the higher the weight, higher will be the revenue.

The month end is expected to see the launch of GSLV-Mk-III with communication satellite GSAT 19 weighing around 3.2 tonne - the heaviest satellite to be lifted by an Indian rocket from Sriharikota. </s> Image copyright ISRO Image caption Indian space agency's trusted GSLV rocket carried the satellite into space

India has successfully launched a new communications satellite for South Asia from Sriharikota space centre.

The satellite, funded entirely by India, is aimed at helping regional countries boost their telecommunication and broadcasting services.

Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan will benefit from this satellite. But Pakistan has opted out from the initiative.

Analysts have called the launch Indian PM Narendra Modi's "space diplomacy".

In a tweet, Mr Modi congratulated the scientists on the launch, saying he was "very proud of them".

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took three years to build the satellite, which was launched by its reliable Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The South Asia Satellite has 12 Ku band transponders which India's neighbours can use to improve their communications services.

Each country will get access to at least one transponder, but they will have to develop their own ground infrastructure.

The satellite is also capable of providing crucial communication links between the nations in times of natural disasters.

Analysis: Pallav Bagla, science writer

Mr Modi has called this satellite an "invaluable gift" to India's neighbours.

This "gift" from India has no parallels in the space-faring world. All other current regional consortia are commercial for-profit enterprises.

So it seems Mr Modi is placing the ISRO in a new orbit by providing this space-based platform that would have cost the participating nations almost $1,500m (£1,158m).

According to the government, the satellite will enable a full range of services to India's neighbours in telecommunication and broadcasting areas such as television, direct-to-home (DTH) services, education, telemedicine, weather forecasting and disaster management support.

But will India's strident regional space diplomacy yield results?

There is no doubt the country is actively trying to counter China's growing influence over its neighbours through this satellite. But in the 21st Century space race in Asia, China already has the first-mover advantage.

The region experiences frequent earthquakes, cyclones, floods and tsunamis.

A South Asia satellite will help the countries co-ordinate rescue efforts and have a secure line of communication during disasters. </s> Preparations for the launch of GSAT- 9, the South Asia Communication Satellite that will boost connectivity among nations in the region, were “going on smoothly,” ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said here on Thursday.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 100 kms from here.

Seven out of the eight SAARC countries are a part of the project, as Pakistan decided to opt out stating “it has its own space programme.”

The satellite will be launched on board the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09. Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite would serve the neighbouring countries through 12 Ku band transponders carried by it and has a mission life of 12 years.

The satellite is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region.

It will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for disaster information transfer.

“We have the launch tomorrow at 4.57 PM in the evening... All activities are going on smoothly,” Kumar told reporters at the airport here.

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a “gift from India.”

On his 'Mann ki baat' programme on Sunday last, Modi had announced that the South Asia Satellite would be India's “priceless gift” to its neighbouring countries.

“On May 5, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project,” Modi had said.

On future launches, the ISRO Chairman said, the space agency would launch the GSLV MK III variant which would be followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.

To a query on major launches, Kumar said, “ISRO would launch Chandrayaan-II in the beginning of next year.”

Tomorrow's launch will be the fourth consecutive flight of GSLV-F09 rocket with the indigenous Cryogenic engine powering the upper stage.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana. </s> The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that its scientists launched 104 satellites on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37 at 928 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

ISRO said that it was the highest number of satellites launched in a single mission.

The launch was at Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, a barrier island off the Bay of Bengal coast located in Andhra Pradesh.

In addition, 101 foreign Nano Satellites from six countries were also launched, each weighing between 1.1 kg to 4.7 kg. Of these, 96 were from the United States, and one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, UAE, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

“Indian CARTOSAT-2 series satellite weighing 727 kgs was launched along with two are national Nano Satellites INS -1 and INS-2. CARTOSAT-2 series has been designed for high-resolution earth observation. It has advanced cameras for cartographic applications,” the ISRO statement added.

With this launch, ISRO has further bolstered its impeccable scientific prowess and reinforced its credentials as a reliable partner for space initiatives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the space scientific community and the nation for this proud feat. </s> New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched the country's 100th satellite — the advanced remote sensing "Cartosat-2" from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota on Friday.

READ MORE: Aiming High: India Looks at More Satellite Launches With New Facility From 2018

"During the last PSLV launch we had problems, today what has happened proves that the problem was properly addressed and rectified. Happy to give this new year gift to the country," AS Kiran, ISRO chairman said after the launch. However, he also added that after 100 successes there can still be failures. "We should learn from past mistakes. We have made rigorous changes after the failure."

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — PSLV-C40 is also carrying a nano-satellite and a micro-satellite both termed as "technology demonstrators indicating significant stride towards miniaturization" by ISRO. The foreign payloads include 3 microsatellites and 25 nano-satellites from Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and USA.

The satellites will be placed into two orbits- thirty of the satellites in an orbit of 550 km, and one 359-km above the Earth. </s> NEW DELHI, June 5 (Reuters) - India will launch a communication satellite on Monday using its most powerful rocket, in a further advance of its space programme aimed at winning a bigger share of the $300 billion global space industry.

The rocket, named Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, will lift off from the Sriharikota space centre in southern India at 5.28 pm local time (1158 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on its website.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been promoting the home-grown space programme as a demonstration of low-cost technology and in February it launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers.

At 3,136 kgs (6914 lb) the GSAT-19 satellite will be the heaviest India has attempted to put in orbit, the space agency said. The United States, Russia, China, Japan and European Space Agency have launched satellites weighing over three tonne.

ISRO hopes that if Monday's launch is successful, it will help it attract more foreign business in the lucrative heavier segment of the satellite business. (Reporting by Vipin Das M; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Michael Perry)
ISRO has successfully launched a new communications satellite for South Asia from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India.