ISRO working on satellite for SAARC countries: Chairman

Indian space agency ISRO is working with SAARC countries for setting up a dedicated satellite for them as mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"That process is on. We are also having discussions with SAARC countries on how exactly they will use. Very soon, the whole configuration and system will be decided", ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters here.
Speaking after the succesful launch of navigational satellite IRNSS-1D from here, he expressed confidence that once the project gets approved, significant development would take place in the next 18 months.
Aiming to play a key role in the development of South Asia, Modi has asked ISRO to develop a SAARC satellite which can be dedicated as a 'gift' to the neighbours.

Modi had made the suggestion during his visit here last year to witness the launch of PSLV-C23.
On IRNSS-1D launch, the ISRO chief said "today we have been able to put fourth navigation satellite which would give us an independent technology to locate the ground receivers... We will be able to make use of receivers to locate ourselves".

"It is 28th successful launch and a great credit for the team. But when we start getting numbers like 28,29,30, we have to be more careful because we have the responsibility," he said.
Asked whether the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) would be different from the Global Positioning Satellite system of US, he said "location of GPS satellites are over the orbit from the Geosynchronous orbit. GPS is global system. But our system is mainly meant for regional coverage."

To a query when the remaining three navigation satellites IRNSS-1E,1F and 1G would be launched, he said the space agency was expected to complete the missions before the next financial year.
"We are planning to complete the remaining before March 2016," he said.