M A I N   N E W S

India, Israel to collaborate in space technology
Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 10
After defence and counter-terrorism, another field which will see India and Israel come together in a big way is space technology. The two countries have agreed to help each other in not only launching of satellites but also improving on the micro-satellite technology.

Official sources here said that during the talks between the delegations of the two countries yesterday, India had agreed to launch an experimental satellite of Israel from one of its launch vehicles. India had recently put on offer its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs), a major expansion programme for which was approved by the government recently.

Sources said Tel Aviv yesterday proposed to use one of the Indian PSLVs to launch its scientific experimental payload. It is for an experiment being pursued by Tel Aviv University to which India gave its consent.

Although India and Israel are among the select group of countries that build and launch satellites on their own, but the latter has opted for the Indian vehicle apparently due to the easy availability of the launch vehicle.

Besides sharing the launch satellites, the two countries are also looking at joint fabrication of satellites and outsourcing components from each other on a commercial basis. Another field in which Israel and India have apparently come together is developing the micro-satellite technology, which is now due to transform the space technology business.

The chief of India’s space programme, Dr K. Kasturirangan, had also visited Israel last month with this very purpose.