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India will now launch US-made satellites from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh which has been made feasible by the technology safeguard agreement that was signed recently.
"Space cooperation with the US has been high on the government agenda. We have negotiated and signed the TSA with the US State Department to enable us launch US-made satellites and satellites carrying US components on commercial terms," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair told IANS here.
Before the agreement, the non-commercial satellites’ users had to wait for clearance by the US administration in a queue fashion.
"The TSA will smoothen the arrangement now. The satellites will be brought to India and we will provide the launch services on mutually agreeable commercial terms," Nair said on the margins of a launch event.
Antrix, the Rs. 10-billion commercial and marketing arm of the space agency, will be entering into commercial terms with users for launching their satellites.
Even though the TSA has provided opportunities for the Indian space agency to availing more foreign non-commercial satellites for launch from its spaceport, the proposed commercial space launch agreement (CSLA) with the US government will enable India compete in the international market for launching heavy commercial satellites.
"Heavy commercial satellites also could be considered on a case-by-case once we have the CSLA in place," Nair pointed out.
"We have increased the number of launches from hardly one to three or four every year. We have already launched two satellites this year and two more, Ocenasat and GSAT-4, are due by this year-end."
