Isro to launch South Asia Satellite at 4.57 pm today, countdown underway

India's gift to neighbouring countries will help region's economic and developmental agenda, says PM

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch the South Asia Satellite, or GSAT-9, which will be India's gift to its neighbouring countries, at 4.57 pm on Friday. The rocket is set to blast off from Sriharikotta space station. 

The 28-hour countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57 hours IST, on May 04, 2017, said Isro.

The Prime Minister had asked Isro in 2014 to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated as a 'gift' to the country's neighbours. It was earlier referred as the SAARC satellite, but was renamed after Pakistan opted out of the