The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Italian premier evinces interest in space programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 12, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Italian premier evinces interest in space programme

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi led an Italian delegation to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Satellite Integration and Test Establishment in Bangalore on Sunday.

Upon his arrival on the newly established ISRO campus in Marathahalli on Outer Ring Road, Mr. Prodi was briefed about the Indian space programme by ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair.

Director of ISRO Satellite Centre K.N. Shankar and other senior officials of ISRO were present. During his nearly hour-long visit, the Italian Prime Minister evinced keen interest in the Indian space programme and was particularly interested by the new facility established by the ISRO.

The Italian delegation comprised Mr. Prodi's wife, Flavia Franzoni, senior ministers, including Minister for International Trade Emma Bonino, Minister for University and Scientific Research Fabbio Mussi, and other senior officialsOne of the main facilities in the campus was a 6.5-metre diametre comprehensive assembly, test and thermo vacuum chamber supplied by an Italian company on a turn-key basis. Sources said that this facility has several features that allow flexibility in terms of spacecraft loading, preferential cooling and integrated system for creating thermal environment around the spacecraft besides data acquisition and monitoring system.

Sources in the ISRO told The Hindu that ISRO would launch Agile, an Italian satellite using PSLV in April.

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