Image copyright ISRO Image caption Indian space agency's trusted GSLV rocket carried the satellite into space

India has successfully launched a new communications satellite for South Asia from Sriharikota space centre.

The satellite, funded entirely by India, is aimed at helping regional countries boost their telecommunication and broadcasting services.

Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan will benefit from this satellite. But Pakistan has opted out from the initiative.

Analysts have called the launch Indian PM Narendra Modi's "space diplomacy".

In a tweet, Mr Modi congratulated the scientists on the launch, saying he was "very proud of them".

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took three years to build the satellite, which was launched by its reliable Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The South Asia Satellite has 12 Ku band transponders which India's neighbours can use to improve their communications services.

Each country will get access to at least one transponder, but they will have to develop their own ground infrastructure.

The satellite is also capable of providing crucial communication links between the nations in times of natural disasters.

Analysis: Pallav Bagla, science writer

Mr Modi has called this satellite an "invaluable gift" to India's neighbours.

This "gift" from India has no parallels in the space-faring world. All other current regional consortia are commercial for-profit enterprises.

So it seems Mr Modi is placing the ISRO in a new orbit by providing this space-based platform that would have cost the participating nations almost $1,500m (£1,158m).

According to the government, the satellite will enable a full range of services to India's neighbours in telecommunication and broadcasting areas such as television, direct-to-home (DTH) services, education, telemedicine, weather forecasting and disaster management support.

But will India's strident regional space diplomacy yield results?

There is no doubt the country is actively trying to counter China's growing influence over its neighbours through this satellite. But in the 21st Century space race in Asia, China already has the first-mover advantage.

The region experiences frequent earthquakes, cyclones, floods and tsunamis.

A South Asia satellite will help the countries co-ordinate rescue efforts and have a secure line of communication during disasters.</s>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s communication satellite GSAT-9 on-board GSLV-F09 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the satellite as India's “space gift for South Asia”. Pic/PTI

 

India successfully launched, in copy book style, the South Asia Satellite, intended to serve "economic and developmental priorities" of South Asian nations, using its heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09).

Precisely at 4.57 p.m., the GSLV-F09 rose into the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, carrying the satellite, intended as an Indian Gift for its fellow Saarc nations except for Pakistan which had opted out.

The 49-metre, 415 tonne rocket slung the 2,230 kg satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, from where it would be taken up to its final geostationary orbit.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tasked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for use by the Saarc countries.

Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite was initially known as the Saarc satellite. But with Pakistan deciding to keep out, it is called the South Asia Satellite. With a life span of over 12 years, its objective is to provide communication applications in Ku-band for the user nations.

The satellite, with its 12-Ku band transponders-transmitters and receivers of radio signals, will enable telecommunication, tele-education and tele-medicine as well as mapping of natural resources.

It would also provide/augment internet connectivity and would be useful in disaster management.

Modi has said the South Asia Satellite would go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region," he said.

"It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia... It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he had said.

According to an official, the ISRO decided to have electric power for the satellite.

"We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites," the official told IANS.

He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch in 2018.

The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The core of the first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second is the liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.

One of the spin off benefits for India through this launch is that in the international satellite launch market, GSLV-Mk II rocket may gain the confidence of potential customers.

India puts into orbit foreign satellites for a fee, using its lighter rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However the weight of third party satellites is not much.

Revenue for launching satellites depends on weight of the satellite - the higher the weight, higher will be the revenue.

The month end is expected to see the launch of GSLV-Mk-III with communication satellite GSAT 19 weighing around 3.2 tonne - the heaviest satellite to be lifted by an Indian rocket from Sriharikota.</s>The 28-hour countdown has begun for Friday's launch of India's GSAT-9, the South Asia Communication Satellite that will boost connectivity among nations in the region.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 135km from Chennai.

GSAT-9, considered as a 'gift' to its South Asian neighbours, is all set to ride piggyback on the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.

ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, "We have the launch tomorrow at 4.57pm IST in the evening... All activities are going on smoothly."

The GSLV-F09 carrying GSAT-9 will blast off from the second launch pad at the the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

"The 28-hour countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57pm IST [Thursday]," the ISRO Chairman said.

Seven of the eight SAARC countries - India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, are a part of the project. Pakistan had decided to opt out, stating "it has its own space programme."

The satellite, costing around Rs. 235 crores, is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra 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, PM 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," PM Modi had said.

On future launches, Kumar said, ISRO would launch the GSLV MK III variant which would be followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.

Further, ISRO would launch Chandrayaan-II in the beginning of next year, he added.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana.</s>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday launched the South Asian Communication Satellite or GSAT-9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

 

 The satellite, which has a mission life of 12 years, will provide communication and disaster report to the South Asian countries. While, initially, all eight South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries were meant to be part of the project, Pakistan opted out claiming it had its own space programme. 

 

 ISRO's GSAT-9 satellite cost over Rs. 200 crore has been been carried by the rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09), which is a three stage rocket weighing 450 tons.

Congratulating the ISRO team who worked on the satellite, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the successful launch was a historic moment and that It opened up new horizons of engagement.

"This will greatly benefit South Asia and our region’s progress," PM Modi tweeted.</s>Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of South Asia satellite. “Congratulations to @isro for successful launch of #SouthAsiaSatellite. PM @narendramodi ji has taken regional cooperation to greater heights,” Parrikar tweeted.

In a first, India yesterday 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.

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now</s>A 28-hour for the Friday launch of the or GSAT-9 commenced on Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced.

According to ISRO, the began at 12.57 p.m.

The Geosynchronous Vehicle (GSLV-Mk II) carrying the GSAT-9 is expected to blast off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The GSAT-9 is being launched with an objective to provide different communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries, the ISRO stated.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the South Asia Satellite, will go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia's economic and developmental priorities," he said in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat'.

"Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region."

"It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia...It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he had said.

The space agency said that the GSAT-9 is configured around the ISRO's standard I-2K bus, with a lift-off mass of 2,230 kg, and the satellite's main structure is cuboid in shape built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years.

According to an official, ISRO on experimental basis decided to have electric power for the satellite.

"We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites," the official told IANS.

He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch next year.

Meanwhile, the ISRO is also gearing up to launch its heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III later this month.</s>Six of India's neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are participating in the project.

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): The South Asia Satellite was on Friday launched by the Indian Space Research organization (ISRO).

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV F-09 carrying the communication and broadcasting satellite took from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 4.57 p.m.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent radio address to the nation 'Mann Ki Baat' had said the South Asia Satellite was India's gift to the region, that will go a long way in addressing the economic and development priorities of the nations in the region.

Six of India's neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are participating in the space-based regional communication project.

Pakistan had refused to join the project, after which the satellite's name was changed from 'SAARC Satellite' to 'South Asia Satellite'.

The satellite weighing 2230 kilogram during lift off and carrying 12 Ku-Band transponders has been developed at a cost of about 235-crore rupees and the total cost of the project including the launch is worked out to be about 450-crore rupees.

The intended operational life of the satellite is more than 12 years and it cost Rs 235 crore.

The GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite and data from it will be shared with the other five countries.

It will help to meet the growing telecommunications and broadcasting needs of the region.

All participating nations will have access to at least one transponder using which they can telecast their own programming.

The satellite is expected to provide communication channels between countries for better disaster management as the region is prone to natural disasters.

The national space agency ISRO uses the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage in this flight of the GSLV for the fourth time. In total, it would be the 11th flight of the GSLV.

In short, as envisaged by Prime Minister Modi, it is a satellite sans frontiers, for the nations to grow together.</s>The countdown for the launch Friday evening of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII) rocket carrying the South Asia satellite or GSAT-9 is progressing smoothly, an official of the Indian space agency said.

The rocket is expected to blast off at 4:57pm on Friday from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh around 80km from Chennai.

The 28-hour countdown for the rocket launch began at 12.57pm on Thursday. Standing 49 metres tall and weighing around 450 ton, the GSLV is a three stage rocket. The first stage is fired with solid fuel, the second with liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.

According to an official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) the liquid propellant for the second stage has been filled up and the fuelling of cryogenic engine is on.

The GSAT-9 is being launched with an objective to provide different communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries, the ISRO had said.

On April 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the South Asia Satellite, will go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia's economic and developmental priorities," he said in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat'.

"Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region."

"It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia...It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he had said.

The space agency said that the GSAT-9 is configured around the ISRO's standard I-2K bus, with a lift-off mass of 2,230 kg, and the satellite's main structure is cuboid in shape built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years.

According to an official, ISRO on experimental basis decided to have electric power for the satellite.

"We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites," the official told IANS.

He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch in 2018. Meanwhile, the ISRO is also gearing up to launch its heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III later in May.</s>The 28-hour countdown for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk II) or more commonly referred as GSAT-9 satellite began on Friday afternoon around 12.57 Indian Standard Time. The GSAT-9 will be launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The South Asia Satellite is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project tied to the larger foreign policy objective of India's 'Neighbourhood First' approach. First mooted in 2014 after Modi's inauguration, the PM on Sunday reiterated that the satellite would set a new milestone in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour and the capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia's economic and developmental priorities. It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia; an invaluable gift and an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia," Modi said in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat'.

Experts concurred and said that besides showing India's good neighborliness, it will further boost ISRO's image in the space industry.

"PM Modi is right that the South Asia Satellite would go a long way in improving communications systems and mapping the region in various ways which could boost data collection in multifarious ways. Whether it is disaster management, telecom, resource extraction and other areas, it is truly a gift. It is unfortunate that Pakistan is not part of the project. They had concerns over data sharing and security but all others are supporting the project," Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele (Retd.), Senior Fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, told Sputnik.

Barring Pakistan, all member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are part of the project. Afghanistan is still going through some formalities. India has reportedly spent US$ 36.5 million (INR 2.35 billion) on the project.

ISRO said that the GSAT-9 is configured around its standard I-2K bus, with a lift-off mass of 2,230 kg, and the satellite's main structure is cuboid in shape and built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years.



Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!</s>Preparations for the launch of GSAT- 9, the South Asia Communication Satellite that will boost connectivity among nations in the region, were “going on smoothly,” ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said here on Thursday.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 100 kms from here.

Seven out of the eight SAARC countries are a part of the project, as Pakistan decided to opt out stating “it has its own space programme.”

The satellite will be launched on board the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09. Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite would serve the neighbouring countries through 12 Ku band transponders carried by it and has a mission life of 12 years.

The satellite is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region.

It will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for disaster information transfer.

“We have the launch tomorrow at 4.57 PM in the evening... All activities are going on smoothly,” Kumar told reporters at the airport here.

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra 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.

On future launches, the ISRO Chairman said, the space agency would launch the GSLV MK III variant which would be followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.

To a query on major launches, Kumar said, “ISRO would launch Chandrayaan-II in the beginning of next year.”

Tomorrow's launch will be the fourth consecutive flight of GSLV-F09 rocket with the indigenous Cryogenic engine powering the upper stage.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana.
ISRO has successfully launched a new communications satellite for South Asia from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India.