At 4:57 pm on Friday, the 5th
of this month, ISRO launched GSAT-9, the south Asia communication satellite
from Sri Hari Kota. In 1981, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said APPLE
(Ariana Passenger Payload Experiment) marked the dawn of India’s satellite
communication era. Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort was carried live by APPLE.
In 2014 SAARC summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted India’s neighbourhood
first policy. APPLE to GSAT-9 tells the story of India’s friendship with other
countries of the world especially the SAARC countries.
GSAT-9 better known as the South Asia
Communication Satellite embraced the space to give a platform for SAARC
countries except Pakistan which refused to join in this adventure. India, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives to help in natural
resources mapping telecommunication, education, weather forecasting and
disaster warning among other things.
India is the only SAARC member
capable of launching satellites, thus enhancing India’s image as the regional
power. This also counters increasing influence of China not just in the region
but also in the space. India is a space power now. In the month of February,
this year ISRO set a record by launching 104 satellites
from a single rocket.
The satellite is designed to facilitate
the member countries of SAARC with their
own ground setup for broadcasting their television channels e-governance, ATM’s
etc. the launch proves, said Prime Minister Modi that choices of India is
co-operation, not conflict, development not destruction and prosperity, not
poverty.
Dial I (India) for friendship and
Space Gift.
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