ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is going to set a new mark very soon. Today, India will make launch of South Asia Satellite. The satellite has been made by ISRO. This satellite launch is very much like crossing a milestone for the ISRO as it will help them to represent themselves out there at the international level. This also sets them apart from the normal as the agency is going to “gift” a satellite to its neighbor countries.
The satellite, India GSAT-9 will prove as a major connector among the countries. On Friday, the South Asia Communication Satellite will be launched in the evening hours. The timing will be 4.57 pm.
As reported, the launch of this satellite is based on the notion, “sabka saath, sabka vikaas”, by PM Narendra Modi. This was highlighted by Gopal Bagley, the external affairs ministry spokesperson at the event of launch of Rs. 450 crore satellite from Sriharikota region. The launch will have the presence of ambassadors of countries like Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh. Also, the other countries will be presented by some other diplomats.
ISRO developed the satellite for regional cooperation dedicated to eight countries named SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). This geosynchronous and meteorology satellite has been developed by eight countries, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afganisthan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.
The satellite will help in many important chores like mapping of tele-medicine, natural resources, education and It connectivity links. Every country involved in the satellite process will be provided a specific amount of DTH capability. These countries will also have a direct connection with the other nations for managing the situations at the time of any disaster. With a common “South Asian Programming”, every nation from South Asia will get the leeway to cast their own programming. This will be done with the help of a transponder. Also, every country will get its own ground infrastructure which will help them to magnify the assistance.
Earlier the project was to launch in December but with the denial of Pakistan to join the venture delayed it.
PM Modi mentioned in his Kathmandu speech that, “India’s gift of a satellite for the SAARC region will benefit us all in areas like education, telemedicine, disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting and communication. We will also host a conference in India for all South Asian partners next year, to strengthen our collective ability to apply space technology in economic development and governance”.
He also added, “This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. The satellite of South Asia will help in the overall development of the entire region”.
