Indian Space Research Organization (SRO) has geared up necessary preparations to launch the two-tonne satellite with 12 Ku band transponders coinciding with SAARC Charter's Day in 2016. The SAARC Charter Day falls on December 8 every year.
Indian Prime Minister Modi proposed an exclusive satellite for nations in the SAARC region as a gift as India is the only country with capability to build and launch such a satellite during the 18th SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu on November 26-27.Indian side had informed all seven other SAARC member states about the ongoing preparations to launch the dedicated SAARC satellite during a conference jointly organized by Government of India and Indian Space Research Organization (SRO) on Satellite for SAARC Region and Space Technology Application held in New Delhi on June 22.
"This will bring in a huge opportunity to Nepal. Nepal will be provided with the satellite bandwidth which can be used to broadcast national television channels, remote sensing and weather forecasting. Also, Nepal will be in a position to utilize the achievements that India has already made in the field of weather forecasting and space research," said Chief of Frequency Management Section at the Ministry of Information and Communications Anup Nepal. Nepal was among the five-member Nepali delegation that attended the conference.
Under Secretary at Ministry of Science and Technology Raju Babu Pudasaini, Chief Survey Officer Kamal Ghimire, meteorologist Ram Chandra Karki of Meteorological Forecasting Division and Under Secretary Saroj Raj Shahi of BP Koirala Memorial Planetorium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board were among the Nepal's five-member delegation in the conference.
As per the arrangement made by India, each SAARC nation will be provided with 40 MHZ transponder for free. Nepal can use this transponder for broadcasting, remote sensing and weather forecasting purpose as necessary. India has also announced to make available all its research findings made in the field of space technology to other SAARC member states so that they can work further on the basis of the same findings.
Among other things, the satellite will also promote distance education and Open University education system in the South Asian region with the launch of SAARC Satellite.
The meeting held in New Delhi on June 22 finalized the modality to launch the dedicated satellite. The state-run space agency will take 18 months to build the satellite at its center in Bangalore and launch the spacecraft from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andra Pradesh.
During the meeting, Pakistan had proposed bringing the satellite under the SAARC framework and also develop its governing council accordingly. Indian side had informed that they were ready to bring it under the SAARC framework once the satellite is launched and all SAARC member states start utilizing it.
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