In a first, India today 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.
Giving a fillip to India's new age space diplomacy and "neighbourhood
first" policy, the Rs 235 crore satellite GSAT-9 built as part
of a Rs 450 crore project and touted as an 'invaluable gift' to
India's neighbours is seen as a significant move in countering
Chinese interests in the region. The project is funded entirely by
India. The cuboid-shaped 2,230 kg satellite named SAS will enable a
full range of services to the neighbours, including in
telecommunication, television, direct-to-home, VSATs,
tele-education and telemedicine. The South Asian Satellite (SAS)
mission life is 12 years. Seven of the eight SAARC countries--India,
Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and
Maldives--are part of the ambitious project. Pakistan has opted out
of the project, saying it has its own space programme. Soaring
majestically in clear weather, the GSLV-F09 rocket blasted off around
4:57 PM from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 350 km from here, and injected
the satellite into orbit in a flawless flight. "The launch of
South Asian Satellite tells us that even the sky is not the limit
when it comes to regional cooperation," Modi told the leaders of
the seven nations celebrating the success of the launch during a
video conference. Modi earlier took to Twitter to announce the
successful launch of the south asian satellite, which is his
brainchild, calling it a "historic moment." "It opens
up new horizons of engagement. This will also greatly benefit South
Asia & our region’s progress," he tweeted. Nepal Prime
Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Sri Lanka President
Maithripala Sirisena, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen and Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani also addressed through videoconferencing.
Lauding Modi's vision, the leaders hailed the mission as a giant step
in strengthening regional cooperation. The launch took place away
from the media glare, with journalists kept at bay and a
reticent ISRO keeping details of the mission and the programme under
wraps. In Sriharikota, ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, "We
have just transported South Asia satellite from Earth to
geostationary transfer orbit using our geosynchronous launch vehicle
mark II that makes use of indigenously developed cryogenic engine."
He said the satellite operations and control will be carried out from
ISRO's Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka and that in the
coming few weeks the satellite will reach its
destination-geostationary orbit. GSLV-F09 mission is the 11th flight
of GSLV, called a "naughty boy" as it has a patchy record
with half of its mission ending in failures in the past. Built by the
Indian Space Research Organisation, the SAS rode piggyback on
the 50m-tall rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
GSLV-F09 with the indigenous Cryogenic powering the Upper Stage.
GSLV-F09 mission is the 11th flight of GSLV. GSAT-9 is
a Geostationary Communication Satellite providing
various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over
south asian countries. It can also provide secure hotlines among
the participating nations, which will be useful for management
of disasters like earthquake, cyclone, floods and tsunami.
Ghani described the launch as "South Asia's giant step towards
regional cooperation" and said it makes the region's integration
a reality. "Today marks the day where South Asia moves from
speaking about desirability of regional integration to making it a
reality. The gap between talk and action is bridged today."
After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister 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. Extending his "Sabka saath,
sabka vikaas" concept, SAS is part of Modi's 'Neighbourhood
First' policy focusing on India's South Asian neighbours. The
previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011
from Kourou, French Guiana. South Asia is considered prone to
tropical cyclones, heat waves, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides
and floods. The launch is considered significant as it is part of
Space diplomacy to extend India's footprint over the region. It
comes close on the heels of a record breaking launch of 104 mini
satellites with a single rocket in February.
No comments:
Post a Comment