Launch mass 2 t (2.2 tons) Coverage area SAARC Bus I-2K | Power 2 kW Launch date March 2017 | |
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Mission type Communication-Meteorology Satellite Rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Launch site Satish Dhawan Space Centre Operator Indian Space Research Organisation Similar Aditya, Crew Module Atmosph, Bhaskara, Chandrayaan‑2, Ariane Passenger Payload | ||
Isro announces launch of saarc satellite in march 2017
The SAARC Satellite is a proposed geosynchronous communications and meteorology satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. During the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of a satellite serving the needs of SAARC member nations, part of his Neighbourhood first policy.
Contents
- Isro announces launch of saarc satellite in march 2017
- Saarc satellite likely to be launched next year pakistan agrees to participate
- Background
- Development
- Response from SAARC nations
- Pakistani concerns
- References
Although the satellite is intended to serve the SAARC region, Pakistan has opted out of the program, while Afghanistan has not pledged their commitment.
ISRO officials have stated that the satellite will be launched by April 2017 on-board a GSLV Mark II.
Saarc satellite likely to be launched next year pakistan agrees to participate
Background
During the Indian general elections campaign in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hinted that his foreign policy will actively focus on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy in the Indian media. Modi invited all heads of state/heads of government of SAARC countries during his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of India and held bilateral talks with all of them individually, which was dubbed a "mini SAARC summit" by the media. India has an active space programme dating back to 1965, and in 1975, became the first South Asian nation to launch a satellite. Furthermore, India is the only nation in South Asia to have successfully launched and operate satellites in space while other South Asian nations have struggled and lacked in such progress.
One month after sworn in as Prime Minister of India, in June 2014 Modi asked ISRO to develop a SAARC satellite, which can be dedicated as a ‘gift’ to the neighbours. He asked the scientists to work on a satellite that would provide a full range of applications and services to all of India’s neighbours. Modi said, "There is a lot of poverty in the SAARC nations and we need scientific solutions for this".
In his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament in March 2015, Narendra Modi said "Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India's satellite for the SAARC Region. This should be in Space by December 2016".
Development
ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar has stated that the satellite can be launched within 18 months of receiving approval from the SAARC member nations. It is proposed to build a satellite for the SAARC region with 12 Ku-band transponders (36 Mhz each) and launch using the Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk-II. The total cost of launching the satellite is estimated to be about ₹2,350,000,000 (₹235 crore). The cost associated with the launch will be met by the Government of India. The proposed satellite enables full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz television (TV), direct-to-home (DTH), very small aperture terminals (VSATs), tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster management support.
Response from SAARC nations
The reception of the satellite was generally met with favourable views by the SAARC nations that supported the program, specifically from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Pakistani concerns
Pakistan, however, remain muted upon the announcement but later raised concerns regarding the security and mission scope of the satellite. Pakistani concerns are marked by the fact that the satellite could allow India to have access and secure key data on Pakistan's sensitive information database infrastructure.
Pakistan maintains its own active space programme under its Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). India is the only country in the SAARC that has the capability to launch and operate satellites in space. In a separate meeting with Indian Space Research Organisation officials, SUPARCO officials proposed a joint monetary and technical venture with the development of the satellite; the Indian government declined the offer as they insisted that the project is a gift from India to its SAARC neighbours. On 27 June 2015, ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar announced that India and Pakistan will collaborate on developing the SAARC satellite with SUPARCO performing technical engineering under ISRO's guidance.
During the 70th UN meeting in New York City held on 20 September 2015, officials from India and Pakistan debated over the ownership and control of the satellite. On 2 October 2015, India announced that it has decided that India can go ahead with building the satellite, without Pakistan's consent. On 23 March 2016, Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India said "Pakistan has decided to opt-out of the satellite project. So it cannot be called a SAARC satellite. It will be a South Asia satellite".
Afghanistan and Bangladesh recently have shown no interest in the project citing alternative space program commitments.
On 23rd March of 2017, Bangladesh signed the South Asia Satellite agreement with India.The agreement formally known as "Agreement between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh concerning to orbit frequency co-ordination of 'South Asia Satellite' proposed at 48.E" would cover 12 transponders of the satellite from which, 1 will be gifted to Bangladesh.