South Asia Satellite

{{Short description|Indian communications satellite}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox spaceflight |auto=all | name = South Asia Satellite | names_list = GSAT-9 | image = File:GSAT-9_Deployed.png | mission_type = Communications{{\}}Meteorology | operator = ISRO | COSPAR_ID = 2017-024A | SATCAT = 42695 | website = [http://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/gsat-9 GSAT-9] | mission_duration = Planned: 12 years<ref name="brochure">{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/flipping_book/GSLV_F09/files/assets/common/downloads/GSLV%20F09%20Brochure.pdf |title=GSLV-F09 / GSAT-9 Mission |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |access-date=6 June 2017 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195022/http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/flipping_book/GSLV_F09/files/assets/common/downloads/GSLV%20F09%20Brochure.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> <br/> Elapsed: {{time interval|5 May 2017 11:27|show=ymd|sep=,}}

| spacecraft_bus = I-2K<ref name="brochure" /> | manufacturer = ISRO Satellite Centre<br/>Space Applications Centre | launch_mass = {{convert|2230|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="brochure" /> | dry_mass = {{convert|976|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="brochure" /> | dimensions = {{convert|1.53|xx|1.65|xx|2.40|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="brochure" /> | power = 3,500 watts<ref name="brochure" />

| launch_date = {{start-date|5 May 2017, 11:27}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="sfinsider20170505">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/isro/india-sends-gsat-9-orbit-atop-gslv/ |title=India sends GSAT-9 into orbit atop GSLV |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Derek |last=Richardson |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> | launch_rocket = GSLV Mk II-F09<ref name="brochure" /> | launch_site = Satish Dhawan SLP | launch_contractor = ISRO | entered_service =

| disposal_type = <!--deorbited, decommissioned, placed in a graveyard orbit, etc--> | deactivated = <!--when craft was decommissioned--> | last_contact = <!--when last signal received if not decommissioned-->

| orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = Geostationary | orbit_longitude = 48° E | orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35769|km|mi|abbr=on}} | orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35802|km|mi|abbr=on}} | orbit_inclination = 0.0413° | orbit_epoch = 5 June 2017, 17:02:43&nbsp;UTC<ref name="heavens-above">{{cite web |url=http://heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=42695 |title=GSAT-9 - Orbit |work=Heavens-Above |date=5 June 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> | apsis = gee

| trans_band = 12 × K_u band | trans_frequency = <!--specific frequencies--> | trans_bandwidth = <!--bandwidth--> | trans_capacity = <!--capacity of the transponders--> | trans_coverage = SAARC | trans_TWTA = <!--TWTA output power--> | trans_EIRP = <!--equivalent isotropic power--> | trans_HPBW = <!--half-power beam width-->

| programme = GSAT | previous_mission = GSAT-18 | next_mission = GSAT-19 }}

The '''South Asia Satellite''' (designated '''GSAT-9'''), formerly known as '''SAARC Satellite''', is a geostationary<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/gsat-9 |title=GSAT-9 |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |access-date=29 May 2017 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415014043/https://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/gsat-9 |url-status=dead }}</ref> communications and meteorology satellite operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.<ref name="Deccan Herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/452938/isro-saarc-satellite-communication-vehicle.html |title=Isro-Saarc satellite to be a communication vehicle |work=Deccan Herald |agency=Deccan Herald News Service |date=12 January 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> The satellite was launched on 5 May 2017. During the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of a satellite serving the needs of SAARC member nations<ref name="NDTV1">{{cite news |url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/science/news/isro-says-saarc-satellite-configuration-will-be-finalised-soon-675981 |title=Isro Says Saarc Satellite Configuration Will Be Finalised Soon |work=NDTV |agency=Indo Asian News Service |date=30 March 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-28102799 |title='Space diplomacy' in South Asia |work=BBC News |date=1 July 2014 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> as a part of his neighbourhood first policy.<ref name="The Space Review">{{cite news |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2579/1 |title=India's SAARC satellite proposal: a boost to a multilateral space agenda |work=The Space Review |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are the users of the multi-dimensional facilities provided by the satellite.

Pakistan "offered technical and monetary support"<ref name="Dawn">{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1331273|title=India calls satellite 'gift to South Asia', Pakistan says no thanks|work=Dawn|date=5 May 2017|access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref> which India rejected saying that it wanted the project to be a "gift" and multi-national collaboration would be time-consuming.<ref name="Times of India, 2015"/> Pakistan later on declined to participate in the project citing India's refusal to collaboration and security reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/pakistan-raises-security-issues-to-oppose-saarc-satellite-project/articleshow/47822734.cms|title=Pakistan raises security issues to oppose SAARC satellite project|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=January 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Soutg Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) launch: Pakistan blames India for "pull out" from project|url = https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/south-asia-satellite-gsat-9-launch-pakistan-blames-india-for-pull-out-from-project/656693/|date = May 6, 2017|newspaper = The Financial Express}}</ref> Afghanistan too was initially non-committal to the satellite<ref name="ET">{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/after-pakistan-afghanistan-shows-no-interest-in-pm-narendra-modis-satellite-project/articleshow/52278620.cms |title=After Pakistan, Afghanistan shows no interest in PM Narendra Modi's satellite project |work=The Economic Times |agency=Press Trust of India |date=15 May 2016}}</ref> which led to renaming of satellite from "SAARC Satellite" to "South Asia Satellite" referring just to the subcontinent. As of 2019 with exception of Pakistan, the satellite is in service with all SAARC countries.

The South Asia Satellite provides information on tele-medicine, tele-education, banking and television broadcasting. It is also equipped with remote sensing technology to collect real-time weather data and observe the geology of the South Asian nations.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/saarc-satellite-likely-to-be-launched-next-year-pakistan-agrees-to-participate-774600 |title=SAARC Satellite Likely to be Launched Next Year, Pakistan Agrees to Participate |work=NDTV |agency=Indo Asian News Service |date=23 June 2015}}</ref>

== Background == During the Indian general elections campaign in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hinted that his foreign policy will actively focus on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy in the Indian media.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-03/news/51057722_1_prime-minister-narendra-modi-friendly-neighbours-nepal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707113256/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-03/news/51057722_1_prime-minister-narendra-modi-friendly-neighbours-nepal |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2014 |title=Narendra Modi's push for strong relations with neighbours |work=The Economic Times |first=Rajesh |last=Ramachandran |date=3 July 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-modi-and-the-neighbourhood/ |title=India, Modi and the neighbourhood |publisher=Gateway House |date=25 August 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> Modi invited all heads of state/heads of government of SAARC countries during his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of India and held bilateral talks with all of them individually, which was dubbed a "mini SAARC summit" by the media.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140601/editorial/the-mini-saarc-summit-100977.html |title=The mini SAARC summit |work=The Sunday Times |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> India is only South Asian nation with orbital launch capability and builds and operates one of largest fleet of artificial satellites in world.<ref name="Business Standard">{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-satellite-gift-for-saarc-region-to-be-up-in-dec-2016-115031300937_1.html|title=India's satellite 'gift' for SAARC to be up in Dec 2016|date=13 March 2015|work=Business Standard|access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-asks-Indian-space-scientists-to-develop-Saarc-satellite/articleshow/37543526.cms |title=Modi asks Indian space scientists to develop Saarc satellite |work=The Times of India|date=1 July 2014 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> Modi said, "There is a lot of poverty in the SAARC nations and we need scientific solutions for this".<ref name="BBC" />

In his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament in March 2015, Narendra Modi said "Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India's satellite for the SAARC Region. This should be in Space by December 2016".<ref name="Business Standard" />

== Response from SAARC nations ==

The announcement of the satellite was generally met with favourable views by the SAARC nations that supported the program, specifically from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.<ref name="The Hindu, business line">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pakistan-cool-to-saarc-satellite-project/article7291368.ece |title=Pakistan cool to SAARC satellite project |work=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |date=7 June 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref>

300px|thumb|right|South-Asia Satellite coverage

=== Pakistan === Pakistan maintains its own space program under its Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which has launched satellites on Chinese satellite launch vehicles in the past.<ref name="Business Standard"/><ref name="The Hindu, business line" /><ref name="Times of India, 2015">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-rejects-Pakistans-help-in-SAARC-satellite-project/articleshow/47897310.cms |title=India rejects Pakistan's help in SAARC satellite project |work=The Times of India |agency=Press Trust of India |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pakistan-started-space-programme-8-years-before-india-today-isro-is-galaxies-ahead/story-uZW0NQG5Qmxa1o2QM8M8SL.html|title=Pakistan began space programme 8 years before India, but ISRO is galaxies ahead now|work=Hindustan Times|date=16 February 2017|access-date=30 September 2017|first=Dhrubo|last=Jyoti}}</ref>

Pakistan initially declared that it was "keen" to participate on the project, offering monetary and technical support.<ref name="Times of India, 2015"/> However, Pakistan said it did not because "India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis."<ref name=nothanks>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/asia/india-pakistan-satellite/ |title=India launches satellite for South Asian countries, Pakistan says no thanks |publisher=CNN |first=Medhavi |last=Arora |date=5 May 2017}}</ref> Pakistan also stated it was working on its own satellite under its existing space commitments, thus declined to join the project.<ref name="Dawn"/> The Indian government declined Pakistani offers of technical and monetary help because it wanted the project to be an Indian "gift" and did not want to make it into a "SAARC project", and that collaborations with Pakistan would have taken some time.<ref name="Times of India, 2015"/> Earlier on 27 June 2015, ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar had announced that India and Pakistan would collaborate on developing the SAARC satellite with SUPARCO performing technical engineering under ISRO's guidance.<ref name="CNN-IBN">{{cite news |url=http://www.news18.com/news/tech/india-pakistan-will-collaborate-on-developing-saarc-satellite-under-isros-guidance-says-as-kiran-kumar-1012389.html |title=India, Pakistan will collaborate on developing SAARC satellite under ISRO's guidance, says AS Kiran Kumar |work=News18.com |agency=Press Trust of India |date=27 June 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref>

During the 70th UN meeting in New York City held on 20 September 2015, officials from India and Pakistan debated over the ownership and control of the satellite.<ref name="ABP live">{{cite news |url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/india-pak-spar-over-modi-satellite-disaster-management-109541 |title=India and Pakistan spar over Modi satellite, disaster management in New York |agency=ABP live |work=ABP Live |date=2 October 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015 |archive-date=5 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105123644/http://www.abplive.in/india-news/india-pak-spar-over-modi-satellite-disaster-management-109541 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 2 October 2015, India announced that it had decided to go ahead with building the satellite, without Pakistan's consent.<ref name="ABP live"/> On 23 March 2016, Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India said "Pakistan has decided to opt-out of the satellite project. So it cannot be called a SAARC satellite. It will be a South Asia satellite."<ref name="The Indian Express">{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pakistan-opts-out-of-saarc-satellite-plan/ |title=SAARC satellite project: Pakistan decides to opts out, says AS Vikas Swarup |work=The Indian Express |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref>

There were some reports that Pakistan had security concerns, especially regarding espionage.<ref name="The Economic Times, Science">{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/pakistan-raises-security-issues-to-oppose-saarc-satellite-project/articleshow/47822734.cms |title=Pakistan raises security issues to oppose SAARC satellite project |work=The Economic Times |last=Chaudhury |first=Dipanjan Roy |date=26 June 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref> However, the Pakistani foreign ministry said these reports were "unfounded".<ref name=nothanks/>

=== Bangladesh === On 23 March 2017, Bangladesh signed the South Asia Satellite agreement with India. The agreement formally known as "Agreement between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh concerning to orbit frequency co-ordination of 'South Asia Satellite' proposed at 48.E" would cover 12 transponders of the satellite from which, 1 will be gifted to Bangladesh.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.anandabazar.com/bangladesh-news/india-and-bangladesh-signs-south-asia-satellite-agreement-bng-dgtl-1.585008 |title=ঢাকায় দক্ষিণ এশিয়া উপগ্রহ চুক্তি সই করল ভারত, বাংলাদেশ |work=Anandabazar.com |access-date=23 March 2017}}</ref>

Bangladesh has launched its first satellite Bangabandhu-1 on 12 May 2018. Citing the capacity of Thales Alenia Space manufactured Bangabandhu-1 satellite, the Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood said, "''Our own satellite can be used for commercial purposes and we can also sell its capacity to other countries while South Asia Satellite will be used only for limited purposes and its capacity will never be sold''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangladesh links up with India's South Asia Satellite |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/bangladesh-links-indias-south-asia-satellite-1545130 |website=The Daily Star |access-date=18 January 2021 |language=en |date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

=== Bhutan === In November 2018, Bhutan announced that it is on track to begin using South Asia Satellite by the end of November 2018. Planned utilisation of allotted Ku-band transponder includes connecting three off-grid blocks in remote areas of the country, national TV broadcast, emergency communications and backup for domestic/international voice connectivity.<ref name="spacetechasia.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.spacetechasia.com/bhutan-to-begin-using-gsat-9-services-end-november/ |title=Bhutan to begin using GSAT-9 services end-November |work=Space Tech Asia |date=10 November 2018}}</ref>

== Development == In November 2015, ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar stated that the satellite could be launched within 18 months of receiving approval from the SAARC member nations.<ref name=NDTV/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/astrosat-to-provide-opportunities-to-analyse-celestial-bodies-isro/ |title=Astrosat to provide opportunities to analyse celestial bodies: ISRO |work=The Indian Express |date=18 November 2015}}</ref> It was proposed to build a satellite for the SAARC region with 12 Ku-band transponders (36&nbsp;MHz each)<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in">{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/neighbours/story/bangladesh-india-south-asia-satellite-program-btrc-isro-967309-2017-03-23 |title=Bangladesh joins India's South Asia Satellite program |work=India Today |first=Sahidul Hasan |last=Khokon |date=23 March 2017 |access-date=23 March 2017}}</ref> and launch it with the Indian GSLV Mk-II. The cost of the satellite was estimated to be about {{INRConvert|235|c|lk=on|year=2017}}, and the total cost including operational costs and insurance comes to {{INRConvert|450|c|lk=|year=2017}}.<ref name="IndianExpress2017">{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-south-asia-satellite-indias-%E2%82%B9235-crore-gift-to-neighbours-4634421/ |title=What is South Asia Satellite: India's ₹235-crore gift to neighbours |work=The Indian Express |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> The cost associated with the launch was met by the Government of India.

The satellite was designed to support telecommunication and broadcasting applications, including television, direct-to-home (DTH) services, VSAT communications, tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster management.<ref name="launchdate">{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-priceless-gift-south-asia-satellite-to-be-launched-on-may-5-prime-minister-narendra-modi/ |title=India's 'priceless gift' South Asia Satellite to be launched on May 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi |work=The Indian Express|date=30 April 2017}}</ref>

== Satellite and payloads == GSAT-9 carries 12 K_u band transponders; each participating South Asian Country has access to a dedicated transponder for their communications.<ref name=satbeams>{{cite web |url=http://www.satbeams.com/satellites?id=2530 |title=Satellite Details GSAT-9 |work=SatBeams |access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>

The standalone satellite has a liftoff mass of about 2,230&nbsp;kg.<ref name=satbeams /> GSAT-9 is the first Indian satellite to use electric propulsion albeit partially. It carries only 25% of the normal chemical fuel package compared to other Indian satellites, a xenon based electric propulsion system is used for orbital functions of the spacecraft. GSAT-20 is expected to be the first fully electric propulsion system enabled satellite.<ref name="newsexpress">{{cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/ISRO-to-Test-Electric-Propulsion-on-Satellites/2015/11/30/article3153565.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202220818/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/ISRO-to-Test-Electric-Propulsion-on-Satellites/2015/11/30/article3153565.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2015 |title=ISRO to Test Electric Propulsion on Satellites |work=The New Indian Express |first=Tiki |last=Rajwi |date=30 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/gsat-9-heralds-cost-saving-electric-propulsion/article18347912.ece |title=GSAT-9 heralds cost-saving electric propulsion |work=The Hindu |last=D. S. |first=Madhumathi |date=1 May 2017}}</ref> [[File:Dr. B.N. Suresh, former ISRO scientist briefing the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the successful launch of PSLV - C 23, at Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh. The Union Minister for Urban Development.jpg|thumb|223x223px|Dr. B.N. Suresh, briefing the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the successful launch of PSLV - C 23, at Sriharikota]]

== Launch == The satellite was launched on 5 May 2017 at 11:27&nbsp;UTC aboard the GSLV-F09 rocket from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of the Satish Dhawan spaceport in Sriharikota, in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh.<ref name="sfinsider20170505" /><ref name="indiapr20170505">{{cite press release |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=161601 |title=GSLV Successfully Launches South Asia Satellite |publisher=Government of India, Department of Space |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref>

== Orbit raising and station keeping == The launch was followed by a series of orbit-raising operations (using an on-board LAM and chemical thrusters) to place the satellite in the intended geostationary orbital slot.

{| cellpadding="2" style="margin:0 auto; text-align:center;" class="wikitable sortable" |- ! rowspan="2"| Op # ! rowspan="2"| Date/<br/>Time (UTC) ! rowspan="2"| LAM burn time ! colspan="2"| Height achieved ! rowspan="2"| Inclination<br/>achieved ! rowspan="2"| Orbital period ! rowspan="2"| References |- ! Apogee || Perigee |- | 1 || 5 May 2017 <br /> 10:21 || 2643 s || {{convert|35873|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|5687|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 10.38° || 12 h, 22 min || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/06-may-2017/first-orbit-raising-operation-of-south-asia-satellite-has-been-successfully |title=The first orbit raising operation... |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |date=6 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> |- | 2 || 7 May 2017 <br /> 04:00 || 3529.7 s || {{convert|35858|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|28608|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 0.755° || 20 h, 58 min || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/07-may-2017/orbit-determination-results-second-lam-firing-are-apogee-x-perigee-height-was |title=Orbit Determination results... |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |date=7 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> |- | 3 || 8 May 2017 <br /> 01:21:52 || 445.8 s || {{convert|35809|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|35776.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 0.0° || 23 h, 56 min, 6 s || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/08-may-2017/third-orbit-raising-operation-of-south-asia-satellite-has-been-successfully |title=The third orbit raising operation... |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |date=8 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> |- |}

== Reactions == Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena congratulated Modi using satellite technology and claimed that it would help uplift the standards of people.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Indian-satellite-would-uplift-social-standard-of-people-MS-128442.html |title=Indian satellite would uplift social standard of people-MS |work=The Daily Mirror |date=6 May 2017 |access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> Nepalese officials commented on Nepalese current inability to fully utilize the satellite information.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 May 2017 |title=Nepal clueless about how to benefit from India's South Asia Satellite |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-clueless-benefit-indias-south-asia-satellite |access-date=13 Jan 2024 |work=The Himalayan Times}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Spaceflight}} * GSAT-20 * Indian Space Research Organisation * Neighbourhood first policy

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

{{Indian space programme}} {{GSAT Satellites}} {{Indian spacecraft}} {{Orbital launches in 2017}} {{South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation}} {{Commons category|GSAT-9}}

Category:GSAT satellites Category:South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Category:Spacecraft launched by India in 2017 Category:Spacecraft launched by GSLV rockets Category:Modi administration initiatives