(a) whether the Government plans to launch a satellite to study the environmental changes
and sea water level;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to seek assistance from other foreign space agencies for launching the said satellite;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the present status of the project; and
(f) the time by which the satellite is likely to be launched?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES &
PENSIONS, MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN):
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) India plans to launch SARAL (Satellite with ARGOS and ALTIKA) satellite to monitor the
sea water level. SARAL satellite will carry an Altimeter (ALTIKA) for studying the sea surface
heights; and ARGOS payload, which is a satellite based data collection platform.
(c) & (d) SARAL satellite is a joint project of Indian Space Research Organisation and
the French National Space Agency. The ALTIKA and ARGOS payloads are built and supplied by the
French National Space Agency. The satellite building and launching are the responsibilities of
Indian Space Research Organisation.
(e) The satellite bus is under fabrication at Indian Space Research Organisation.
Integration and testing of the payloads are ongoing at the French National Space Agency.
(f) The satellite is likely to be launched in 2011.