Modi's space diplomacy puts India into new orbit

[Chanakyaa]

Weeks after assuming office in May 2014, PM Narendra Modi had surprised India’s space scientists by asking them to develop a “Saarc satellite“. Three years on, the satellite, now renamed `South Asia satellite’ after Pakistan opted out of the project, is set to take wings on May 5, taking Modi’s space diplomacy to a new high.

Isro’s Rs 450 crore communications satellite (Gsat-9) will be India’s gift to neighbors and marks New Delhi’s attempt to get around troubled ties with Pakistan, which stalled the Saarc project.

The satellite, which will have a footprint across South Asia, will enable a full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunications and broadcasting. With the launch near ing, Modi said in his radio address `Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday that his slogan `sabka saath sabka vikas’ extended outside the country . He said the satellite would address the region’s economic and development priorities. “There should be cooperation of our neighbors and there should be development of our neighbors too,“ he said.

Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to be part of this mission. Pakistan, whose proposal to invest in the project was rejected by India, backed out citing security reasons. It also said it did not need to be part of the initiative as it had its own space programme.

Pakistan has five satellites in space but lacks heavy duty launchers and satellite fabrication facilities. Af ghanistan is still to ink the deal as some technical problems have to be fixed.

“Natural resources mapping, tele-medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering peopleto-people contact -this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region,“ the PM said.

The South Asia satellite has 12 Ku band transponders, which India’s neighbors can utilise to increase communications. Each country will get access to at least one transponder through which they can beam their own programming and there could be common South Asian programming as well.

On setting up ground infrastructure in each country for using satellite services, a senior Isro official said, “It will be done on the basis of mutual cooperation after the satellite’s launch.“


Source : https://www.asiadefence.com/indias-gift-south-asia-sat-gsat-9-to-soar-on-friday/

 

[Chanakyaa]

Integration Updates :

 

[Sankpal]

Great....

 

[ashok321]

So where is GSVL-MK3 that I have been following for the last 10 years?

Its in the mail:

GSLV Mark III launch: Why ISRO's biggest challenge will be at the end of this month

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...he-end-of-this-month/articleshow/58466879.cms

 

[Dungeness]

Its in the mail:

GSLV Mark III launch: Why ISRO's biggest challenge will be at the end of this month

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...he-end-of-this-month/articleshow/58466879.cms

Keep finger crossed. The launch dates were announced multiple times over years. Best wishes to the successful maiden flight!

 

[ashok321]

Keep finger crossed. The launch dates were announced multiple times over years. Best wishes to the successful maiden flight!

Your good wishes delivered to ISRO's doormat.

 

[Dungeness]

Your good wishes delivered to ISRO's doormat.

Good! I can almost hear the deafening sound wave of "space superpower" party on PDF.

 

[ashok321]

Good! I can almost hear the deafening sound wave of "space superpower" party on PDF.

Unfortunately though.
But this is how Indians behave.

 

[Glorino]

It is a big challenge for India as it is launching GSLV Mark 111 for the first time with South Asia satellite.
Glad Pakistan is not part of South Asia satellite program otherwise Pakistan will get unnecessary attention in the media

 

[anant_s]

GSLV Mark 111

A small correction here, the vehicle to be used in GSLV mark II. It is a tested and mature platform.

 

[Chanakyaa]

It was 3 AM in the morning ... i guess in 1998.. when i first saw Live launch of INSAT 2E from Korou on DD.
have been really waiting for something to lift off from India... Im sure it will. with the signature announcement..

LIFT AAf NAArMALL..

 

[anant_s]

LIFT AAf NAArMALL..

Lift off normal.
First Stage separates.
Second stage separates.
Third stage ignites.
Satellite put in its orbit.
Solar panels deploy.
Mission Controller congratulates everyone.

Those words, still give me goosebumps.

 

[Fledgingwings]

Time for India to start Mining the Moon before USA,RUSSIA and CHINA.

 

[Chanakyaa]

The 28 hrs countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission have started at 12:57hr IST, today May 04, 2017

@anant_s

 

[anant_s]

@XiNiX @Levina @nair @MilSpec @jbgt90

GSLV-F09 / GSAT-9
The launch of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) carrying GSAT-9, is scheduled on Friday, May 05, 2017.

GSLV-F09 mission is the eleventh flight of GSLV and its fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).

GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite with the objective to provide various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries. GSAT-9 is configured around the ISRO’s standard I-2K bus, with lift off mass of 2230 kg. The main structure of the satellite is cuboid in shape built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years.

GSLV-F09 will be launched from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.