India's Successful Commercial Satellite Launch

An anonymous reader writes "Yesterday India successfully launched an Italian astronomical satellite. A BBC article (view video clip) notes that the launch grants India membership in the exclusive group of nations that can sustain commercial satellite launches. India's launch vehicle has less overall capacity than the competition — up to 1,500 kg to orbit — but the country plans to sweep the low end of the market by offering the lowest cost per launched kilogram for smaller payloads."

Re:Next superpowers...

[vivaoporto]

Well, I don't know if in a multilateral world (as opposed to the Bi-polarized Cold War world) there is space to the concept of "Superpower" anymore, but if there is (along with India and China), Brazil, South Africa and Australia stands a chance too. A lot of economic and technological development happening barely unnoticed south of the equator too.

Re:W00T!

[namityadav]

No government spends all it's money on sanitation first before looking into something more progressive like Space research. I appreciate it when a country looks towards the future, and not just the immediate short-term solutions.
The somewhat betterment of the conditions (And I do not turn a blind eye to the fact that these betterments are still only on the surface) in India is largely because of it's new-found IT power, opening of market to the west and getting more exposure to the outside world. Not because India was employing more people in the Sanitation department. Continuing in the same direction will have a good enough trickle-down effect to eventually help sanitation too (I know that you used sanitation only as an example. I am also using it only as an example).

Moreover, unlike most other space agencies, the Indian program still focuses a lot on educational broadcasting and remote sensing. Better than launching those "Spy" satellite, IMHO.

Re:Small payloads?

[namityadav]

No, my dear friend, I am an Indian. And I want people to get to know more about the Indian program before they claim that the money could have been better spent on "sanitation" instead :-)

Re:Or, for ICBMs...

[bommai]

While I am sure India would like to have a deterrant against China and Pakistan in a military context, satellites in India have been put to good use. Most of rural India can get accurate weather forecasts that helps them figure out when to plant, and harvest their crops. It also predicts weather patterns and climate changes. Television and other broadband communication is also possible. India has several satellites in orbit. The Geosynchronous satellites were all designed and made in India but were launched from French Guyana (typically) from a EU made rocket. With India getting better at making launch vehicles, they could build and launch satellites on their own as well as provide launch support for other countries. I am glad they are doing this and I am glad that gives hope and aspirations to generations of Indians. Remember, hope and aspirations count for a lot in the betterment of a country.

Re:Small payloads?

[fiannaFailMan]

for those interested.

Move along. Most of the people here who get modded up seem to be more interested in poking fun at the Indians because of their food, the way they talk, a fictitious character in The Simpsons, or some done-to-death jokes about outsourcing. But I'm sure they'll stop laughing when they realise that the unipolar world centered on Washington hasn't materialised, and finally gotten the concept of people with dark skin doing something clever.

But are they competitive?

[Palmyst]

According to various reports, they charged the Italians USD 11 million for the launch of the 350 kg satellite. Roughly $30k per kg while international norm is 10-15k per kg for LEO. Also the launch cost them $15 million. So the launch is still subsidized by the Indian government and they are charging the customer more than the market rate. How is this "commercial", and how is it competitive?

Re:Next superpowers...

[Semptimilius]

And the reason you put Australia on the list but left off Canada? Assuming it would be absorbed into the US?