India's gift to neighbouring countries will help region's economic and developmental agenda, says PM
The 28-hour countdown for the launch of the South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9, which will be India's gift to its neighbouring countries, started on Thursday. The rocket is set to blast off from Sriharikotta space station on Friday, May 5.
The countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57 hours IST, on May 04, 2017, said Isro.
The Prime Minister had asked Isro in 2014 to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated as a 'gift' to the country's neighbours. It was earlier referred as the SAARC satellite, but was renamed after Pakistan opted out of the project.
It has been estimated that the total cost of launching this satellite is around Rs 235 crore, which India has borne entirely.
The Prime Minister said that the satellite will help region's economic and developmental priorities. The vehicle is a geosynchronous communications and meteorology satellite that will provide valuable information to nations like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that are part of the region.
GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite with the objective of providing 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. (READMORE...)
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