South Asia Satellite, which India has built for use by countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will be launched on May 5. It is an important step by India to enhance co-operation with the entire South Asia. Pakistan is not a part of the mission. Other seven members of SAARC participate in the mission.

About the satellite

• The 2,230-kg satellite was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation and has 12 Ku-band transponders.
• The GSAT-09 offers a full range of applications and services in telecommunication and broadcasting: Television, Direct-to-Home (DTH), Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), Tele-education, Telemedicine and Disaster Management Support.
• The GSLV-F09 is about 50 metre tall and is the 11th flight of the GSLV.
• It is cuboid in shape and built around a central cylinder.
• It has a mission life of over 12 years.
• It will be launched on the Geostationary Launch Vehicle Mk-II.

Application 

Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact,  Television, Direct-to-Home (DTH), Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), Tele-education, Telemedicine and Disaster Management Support.

SAARC

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia.
• Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 3.8% (US$ 2.9 trillion) of the global economy.
• Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• States with observer status include Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.

Source : The Hindu, SAARC

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