SAARC Satellite

SAARC Satellite
Mission type Communication-Meteorology Satellite[1]
Operator ISRO
Spacecraft properties
Bus I-2K[2]
Launch mass 2 t (2.2 tons)[2]
Power 2 kW
Start of mission
Launch date March 2017 (planned)[3]
Rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
Launch site Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Transponders
Coverage area SAARC

The SAARC Satellite is a proposed geosynchronous communications and meteorology satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.[1] During the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of a satellite serving the needs of SAARC member nations,[4][5] part of his Neighbourhood first policy.[6]

Although the satellite is intended to serve the SAARC region, Pakistan has opted out of the program, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh have not pledged their commitment.[7]

Background

During the Indian general elections campaign in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hinted that his foreign policy will actively focus on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy in the Indian media.[8][9] Modi invited all heads of state/heads of government of SAARC countries during his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of India and held bilateral talks with all of them individually, which was dubbed a "mini SAARC summit" by the media.[10] India has an active space programme dating back to 1965, and in 1975, became the first South Asian nation to launch a satellite.[11] Furthermore, India is the only nation in South Asia to have successfully launched and operate satellites in space while other South Asian nations have struggled and lacked in such progress.[11]

One month after sworn in as Prime Minister of India, in June 2014 Modi asked ISRO to develop a SAARC satellite, which can be dedicated as a ‘gift’ to the neighbours. He asked the scientists to work on a satellite that would provide a full range of applications and services to all of India’s neighbours.[3][12] Modi said, "There is a lot of poverty in the SAARC nations and we need scientific solutions for this".[5]

In his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament in March 2015, Narendra Modi said "Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India's satellite for the SAARC Region. This should be in Space by December 2016".[3]

Development

ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar has stated that the satellite can be launched within 18 months of receiving approval from the SAARC member nations.[2][13] It is proposed to build a satellite for the SAARC region with 12 Ku-band transponders and launch using the Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk-II. The total cost of launching the satellite is estimated to be about ₹2,350,000,000 (₹235 crore). The cost associated with the launch will be met by the Government of India. The proposed satellite enables full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz television (TV), direct-to-home (DTH), very small aperture terminals (VSATs), tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster management support.

Response from SAARC nations

The reception of the satellite was generally met with favourable views by the SAARC nations that supported the program, specifically from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.[14]

Pakistani concerns

Pakistan, however, remain muted upon the announcement but later raised concerns regarding the security and mission scope of the satellite.[15] Pakistani concerns are marked by the fact that the satellite could allow India to have access and secure key data on Pakistan's sensitive information database infrastructure.[15]

Pakistan maintains its own active space programme under its Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).[11][14][16] India is the only country in the SAARC that has the capability to launch and operate satellites in space. In a separate meeting with Indian Space Research Organisation officials, SUPARCO officials proposed a joint monetary and technical venture with the development of the satellite; the Indian government declined the offer as they insisted that the project is a gift from India to its SAARC neighbours.[16] On 27 June 2015, ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar announced that India and Pakistan will collaborate on developing the SAARC satellite with SUPARCO performing technical engineering under ISRO's guidance.[17]

During the 70th UN meeting in New York City held on 20 September 2015, officials from India and Pakistan debated over the ownership and control of the satellite.[18] On 2 October 2015, India announced that it has decided that India can go ahead with building the satellite, without Pakistan's consent.[18] On 23 March 2016, Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India said "Pakistan has decided to opt-out of the satellite project. So it cannot be called a SAARC satellite. It will be a South Asia satellite".[19]

Afghanistan and Bangladesh recently have shown no interest in the project citing alternative space program commitments.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Isro-Saarc satellite to be a communication vehicle". Deccan Herald. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "SAARC Satellite Likely to be Launched Next Year, Pakistan Agrees to Participate". NDTV. 23 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "India's satellite 'gift' for SAARC to be up in Dec 2016". Business Standard. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Isro Says Saarc Satellite Configuration Will Be Finalised Soon". NDTV1. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "'Space diplomacy' in South Asia". BBC. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "India's SAARC satellite proposal: a boost to a multilateral space agenda". The Space Review. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 After Pakistan, Afghanistan shows no interest in PM Narendra Modi's satellite project, Economic Times
  8. ↑ "Narendra Modi's push for strong relations with neighbours". The Economic Times. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "India, Modi and the neighbourhood". Gateway House. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "The mini SAARC summit". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 1 June 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 News correspondant (20 August 2015). "India's satellite 'gift' for SAARC to be up in Dec 2016". Bsuiness Standard , Chennai. Bsuiness Standard. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Modi asks Indian space scientists to develop Saarc satellite". The Times of India. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  13. ↑ http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/astrosat-to-provide-opportunities-to-analyse-celestial-bodies-isro/
  14. 1 2 Press Trust of India (7 June 2015). "Pakistan cool to SAARC satellite project". The Hindu, business line. The Hindu. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  15. 1 2 Chaudhury,, By Dipanjan Roy (26 June 2015). "Pakistan raises security issues to oppose SAARC satellite project". The Economic Times, Science. The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  16. 1 2 Press Trust of India (1 July 2015). "India rejects Pakistan's help in SAARC satellite project". Times of India, 2015. Times of India. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  17. ↑ CNN-IBN news reporters (27 June 2015). "India, Pakistan will collaborate on developing SAARC satellite under ISRO's guidance, says AS Kiran Kumar". CNN-IBN. CNN-IBN. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  18. 1 2 "India and Pakistan spar over Modi satellite, disaster management in New York". ABP live. ABP live. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "SAARC satellite project: Pakistan decides to opts out, says AS Vikas Swarup". The Indian Express. The Indian Express. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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