India,US to ink deal on launch of satellites

An Algerian satellite with US-controlled components is expected to be the first satellite to be launched by India after the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) is signed between India and the US. The deal is expected to be signed during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit.

Algeria’s request had been pending for quite some time now,and the satellite is expected to be launched in the next few months. Algeria had been using French facilities for satellite launches so far but India — due to lower costs — is positioning itself to become the favoured destination for launches.

Sources said it has taken four years of sustained negotiations to arrive at the final draft of the deal. “It has been debated and discussed at all relevant levels,” a top source said here on Wednesday.

The agreement aims to facilitate the launch of non-commercial US-licensed satellites and also foreign satellites carrying US-controlled items,as envisaged under the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership,sources said.