ISRO bags Rs100-crore deal to launch French satellite

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a deal, believed to be valued at around Rs100 crore, to launch an 800kg satellite of ASTRIUM SAS, a company under EADS, France.

ISRO said in a statement a commercial launch services agreement between Antrix Corporation Limited (ANTRIX), its commercial arm, and ASTRIUM SAS, has been inked but gave no financial details of the deal.

But sources in the Bangalore-headquartered space agency told PTI in Bangalore the contract was worth around Rs100 crore.

"Under this agreement, an advanced Remote Sensing satellite - SPOT-6 - weighing nearly 800kg, built by ASTRIUM SAS, will be launched on-board ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, during the second half of 2012", ISRO said.

Along with SPOT-6 satellite, the PSLV, in its "core alone" configuration, will also carry other co-passenger payloads. This launch services deal signed between ANTRIX and ASTRIUM is a part of the long-term agreement signed between the two agencies in September 2008.

In November 2010, under a commercial contract between ANTRIX and ASTRIUM, an advanced communication satellite HYLAS was successfully built by ISRO and ASTRIUM together for a European customer.

"In the coming days, further collaboration possibilities between ANTRIX/ISRO and ASTRIUM would be explored," ISRO added in the statement.