(a) whether India is planning to send any remote sensing
satellite into the space in the immediate future;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor;
(c) whether India is going to assist the foreign Governments
in sending their satellites into orbit; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) India is planning to launch during last quarter of 2011,
Meghatropics satellite for weather and climate studies in tropical
regions. This will be followed by launch of a Radar Imaging
Satellite (RISAT-1) with all-weather capabilities, for enhanced
applications in the areas of agriculture and disaster management and
launch of SARAL Satellite (Satellite for Argos and Altika) for ocean,
environment and meteorological studies.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) Antrix, the commercial arm of the Department of Space has been
approached by several countries for launching their satellites using
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota. There are plans to launch 11 satellites belonging to
Luxembourg, Canada, Japan, Germany and Indonesia using PSLV in the near
future.