India and Nepal Sign MoU for Launch of Munal Satellite
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The MoU aims to provide grant assistance for the launch of the Munal satellite. Shri Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from the MEA, and Shri Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL, were the signatories of the agreement. The signing ceremony also witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries, including Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Surendra Thapa, Chargé d’affaires of the Nepali Embassy, and Dr. Abhas Maskey, Founder of Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN).
Background of the Agreement
The agreement follows the recent visit of India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) to Nepal. During this visit, the EAM co-chaired the 7th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held between India and Nepal. On 4th January 2024, the EAM witnessed the exchange of the Launch Service Agreement for Munal satellite between NSIL and NAST. This event marks a significant step in the collaboration between the two nations in space exploration.
Munal Satellite: A Nepalese Initiative
The Munal satellite is an indigenous project developed in Nepal, led by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). This project has received technical assistance from Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN), a Nepali space startup. APN played a crucial role in guiding Nepali students through the design and fabrication process of the satellite. The primary mission of the Munal satellite is to create a vegetation density database of the Earth’s surface, contributing valuable data for environmental and agricultural research.
Upcoming Launch on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Munal satellite is scheduled to be launched on NewSpace India Limited’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) soon. This launch will mark a significant milestone in Nepal’s space endeavours, highlighting the growing cooperation between India and Nepal in the field of space technology.
