Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair on Monday said that European space consortium Arianespace would market home-grown rocket PSLV in Europe and maintained that ISRO does not see the latter as a long-term competitor.
"ISRO does not want to be a competitor of Arianespace. ISRO is looking for cooperation and collaboration with the European space community to evolve next generation of GSLV-Mk III," he said.
"Similarly (in addition to marketing PSLV), some payloads which do not rightly suit their launcher (rocket), they (Arianespace) will deflect to us," Nair, also Secretary in the Department of Space, said on the sidelines of an international seminar
Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, Jean-Yves Le Gall, who was also present, added "Cooperation (with ISRO) will centre around (marketing in Europe of) PSLV (ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)". Since 1981, Arianespace has launched 13 of ISRO's satellites. It is slated to launch INSAT-4G towards the end of this year.
Beyond that, barring one or two launches for which ISRO may have to go to Arianespace, Indian space agency is expected to have all launches from Indian soil. Its first flight of GSLV-Mk III, which can carry four tonne class satellite, is expected next year and this rocket is slated to be operational after the first two flights.
Source: Press Trust of India
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