Article Posted on : - Aug 05, 2008

ISRO has in principle given clearance to the project and IIT scientists will visit ISRO, Bangalore later this month for the final commitment.

"We have been discussing this project with ISRO since the last four months. However, the formalities will be completed by the end of this month when we will go to Bangalore and sign the agreements," IIT Kanpur Director Professor Sanjay Govind Dhande said.

The micro satellite will give accurate information on the nation's agricultural situation, transmit warnings about natural calamities like floods and famine and this would be largely helpful in disaster management. It will also act as a communicating device for other space satellites. It will barely weigh seven kilogrammes, he added.

The satellite will be based on indigenous technology and the project will take about 18 months to complete. It will then be handed over to ISRO for launch.

When asked about the project's funding, Dhande said, "ISRO has provided us the money required to initiate the project, the rest will be given once MoU is signed."

"The development of this satellite in the year of our organisation's golden jubilee will be of great pleasure," the IIT Director said.