Q. 4377: INDO FRENCH MEGA TROPIQUES

Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Indian Space Research Organisation`s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has put into orbit four satellites including Indo-French Mega Tropiques;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the total expenditure incurred by ISRO on these satellites; and

(d) the future plan of ISRO in launching satellites?

ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a) Yes, Sir

(b) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C-18) has launched Megha-Tropiques satellite along with three auxiliary satellites on October 12, 2011. Two auxiliary satellites “Jugnu” and “SRMSat” were developed by student community of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and SRM University, Chennai respectively. The third auxiliary satellite “Vessel Sat-I” was built by LuxSpace of Luxembourg.

(c) The Expenditure incurred by ISRO for the Megha-Tropiques satellite is 81.6 crores. No expenditure was incurred by ISRO for the other three auxiliary satellites.

(d) The future plan of ISRO includes launching of satellites for Earth observation, Satellite Communication, Satellite Navigation, Space Science and Planetary Exploration.

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