Q.4278: COMMERCIAL LAUNCH SERVICE AGREEMENT

Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a deal to be valued at around Rs.100 crore to launch an 800 Kg. satellite of Astrium SAS, a company under European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADSC);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether a commercial launch service agreement between ISRO`s commercial arm Antrix Corporation and Astrium SAS has been under the agreement;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the advanced remote sensing satellite Spot-6 built by Astrium SAS will be launched on board ISRO`s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV); and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b) A commercial Launch Services Agreement between Antrix Corporation Limited (ANTRIX) - the commercial arm of ISRO, and ASTRIUM SAS - a Company under European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), France, was signed on January 25, 2012 in Bangalore. Under this agreement, a Remote Sensing satellite - SPOT-6, weighing around 800 kg, built by ASTRIUM SAS, will be launched on-board ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). For this launch, ASTRIUM SAS will pay to ANTRIX 13.9 Million Euros (which works out to be ~ Rs. 90.35 Crores at the exchange rate of 1 Euro = Rs. 65).

(c)& (d) The above Launch Services Agreement signed between ANTRIX and ASTRIUM is a part of the Long Term Agreement signed between the two agencies in September 2008.

(e) Yes, Sir.

(f) The SPOT-6 satellite will be flown using the PSLV in its core alone configuration (i.e. without the use of six solid strap-on motors). The SPOT-6 satellite will be launched to a circular, sun-synchronous orbit of 655 km altitude, during the second half of 2012.

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