An Indian rocket with the over 2-tonne South Asian Satellite blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport on Friday evening.
Precisely at 4.57 pm, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) rose into sky from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.
The 49 metre-tall, 415-tonne rocket will sling into orbit, the 2,230-kg South Asia Satellite is intended as an 'India's Gift' for use by its fellow South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations save Pakistan, which had opted out, stating “it has its own space programme”.
In his message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement."
I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them," he said.
In 2014, Modi had 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 now called the South Asia Satellite. Its life span is over 12 years.
In his most recent monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi said the South Asia Satellite will 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.
"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 on an 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.
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.
PAKISTAN BLAMES INDIA FOR EXCLUSION FROM 'SAARC SATELLITE' PROJECT
Pakistan on Friday blamed India for its exclusion from the 'SAARC Satellite' project, saying New Delhi was not willing to develop the venture on a collaborative basis.
Pakistan's claim came on a day when India successfully launched the 'South Asia Satellite' to provide communications and disaster support to neighbouring countries.
"During the 18th SAARC Summit, India offered to 'gift' a satellite to SAARC member states, to be named as the so-called 'SAARC Satellite'.
Subsequently, however, India made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.
However, its registration with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was to be done as a 'SAARC Satellite', he said.
Zakaria claimed that Pakistan, which has its own space programme at an advanced level, was ready to share its expertise and technological know-how and was keen to participate in the project.
"However, as India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of SAARC.
The Satellite was then renamed as 'South Asia Satellite' as the project was taken out of the SAARC ambit," he said.
Seven of the eight SAARC countries -- India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives -- are part of the ambitious project.
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.
