Towards the end of this year, ISRO is getting ready to launch the unique South Asia Satellite, a friendly communications satellite for the South Asian neighbours
GSAT-9 satellite are targeted for launch in 2016-17
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious South Asian satellite project , announced two years ago, is likely to miss the December deadline as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch GSLV Mark III that month."ISRO has been launching at least one satellite every month, so our calender is perennially packed and at this point of time it looks difficult to launch the South Asian satellite in December. It could get delayed by a month," a senior official said.
South Asian satellite likely to miss December deadlineQuoteNEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious South Asian satellite project , announced two years ago, is likely to miss the December deadline as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch GSLV Mark III that month."ISRO has been launching at least one satellite every month, so our calender is perennially packed and at this point of time it looks difficult to launch the South Asian satellite in December. It could get delayed by a month," a senior official said.
Barring Afghanistan and Pakistan, all other SAARC countries have given their go-ahead to the project.
NEW DELHI: After Pakistan, which pulled out of India-mooted South Asian Satellite Project, Afghanistan too has shown no interest in the venture.Sources said Afghanistan has tied up with a European company for its space-related needs."We had several rounds of discussions with Afghanistan. At one point they demand a particular thing and we have an agreement. In the next meeting, they would put forth some other demand."Another issue was the location of the satellite. The location where India and Afghanistan wanted to place their satellite in the orbit was more or less the same," an official involved in the negotiations said.Sources said Bangladesh too is not very keen on the satellite project as it is set for launch of its own geostationary communications satellite Bang Bandhu-1.However, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal are still keen on taking the project forward and talks are on with these countries.In June 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked ISRO to develop the satellite which can be dedicated as a "gift" to the neighbouring countries. He had also made the announcement at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu."The objective of this project is to develop a satellite for the SAARC region that enables a full range of services to all our neighbours in the areas of telecommunications and broadcasting applications like television, DTH, tele-education and disaster management," the official added.Since the beginning, Pakistan had insisted that the project be brought under the ambit of SAARC, which was opposed by India. Following this, Pakistan opted out of the project.India has made it clear that it will go ahead with the project irrespective of whoever is on board.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan tried to throw a spanner in the works of the proposed SAARC satellite project conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by raising several queries at the meeting last Monday in Delhi on the objectives of the satellite which it said could infringe on its security, officials said.Although Pakistan eventually agreed to participate in the project, it said the satellite, which will be operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), could allow India to secure key data on Pakistan's sensitive infrastructure.The satellite project is aimed at providing support in areas of telemedicine, weather forecasting and communication. The aim is to put the satellite into orbit by 2016.The eight-member SAARC delegation raised doubts at the meet as to whether the satellite will enable India to get data on Pakistan's sensitive infrastructure. The delegation also raised questions on India's possible access to marine and ecological wealth data in South Asia via this satellite.Pakistani officials, however, said that their country made many constructive proposals for intra-SAARC partnership in the area of space given Pakistan's experience and expertise in peaceful uses of space science. Pakistan hopes that the suggestions put forward by its delegation at the SAARC satellite project meeting will be given due consideration, the officials said.The Pakistani delegates also gave an explanation at Monday's meeting on the satellites their country has launched so far.The SAARC countries will now apply for registration before launching a satellite. The United Nations Outer Space Treaty's Article 6 mandates that every nation putting items in space must register it with the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs. India is constructing the SAARC satellite and bearing all costs. The satellite will weigh around 2,000 kg and will be launched from Sriharikota.Modi had first proposed this satellite last year as India's gift to SAARC. He mentioned the satellite in SAARC Summit and later, in his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament in March, he said, "Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India's satellite for the SAARC Region."
Thiruvananthapuram: India's ambitious South Asian satellite, proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the benefit of SAARC members, will be launched in March next year, ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said on Tuesday.The satellite was originally scheduled for launch in December this year.
Given that "South Asia Sat" is planned at the same orbital location as GSAT-9 (ie 48°E), and is announced for a launch at the same period also with GSLV MkII, I tend to think it's another name for GSAT-9
The South Asian satellite will be a part of GSAT-9, which will be launched in March this year, M. Nageshwara Rao, Associate Director of ISRO said.
Can we merge this thread with: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39628.0
Now, the focus is on the launch of South Asian Satellite on board GSLV-Mark II by March end or by April first week, he said.Proposed by the Prime Minister in November 2014 as a gift to the neighbouring countries, the South Asian satellite previously known as SAARC satellite project is for geo-spatial, communication and telemedicine applications. Last year, Pakistan opted out of the project. Apart from India, the satellite will benefit Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-now-set-for-south-asian-satellite-launch-by-march-end/articleshow/57171858.cmsQuoteNow, the focus is on the launch of South Asian Satellite on board GSLV-Mark II by March end or by April first week, he said.Proposed by the Prime Minister in November 2014 as a gift to the neighbouring countries, the South Asian satellite previously known as SAARC satellite project is for geo-spatial, communication and telemedicine applications. Last year, Pakistan opted out of the project. Apart from India, the satellite will benefit Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
Is it known if this GSLV MkII launch, using SLP, is still scheduled to precede the premiere GSLV MkIII launch, also using SLP?
Launch planned on March 31http://www.sakshi.com/news/national/isro-looking-for-another-record-453317
GSLV Mk-III launch could happen only after the GSLV Mk-II launch. GSLV Mk-II carrying SAARC satellite was scheduled for launch this month end, but ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) was unable to deliver the satellite within the stipulated time because of technical issues. This forced the ISRO to rework on its launch calendar. Now, the SAARC satellite launch is rescheduled for April end.