Switzerland to launch more satellites from India

SRIHARIKOTA, INDIA: Happy with the successful launch of its first satellite, Switzerland hopes to launch its second Cubesat, which is under development back home, also from the space port here.

"This is our first satellite and we are happy that it is launched successfully. The satellite was built at a cost of 400,000 euros by an educational institution in Switzerland," Silva Hostettler, executive director, State Secretariat for Education and Research, Embassy of Switzerland, told IANS here.

She was here to witness the launch of the Swiss made and owned Cubesat piggybacking on India's Oceansat-2 launched by Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

According to Hostettler, another satellite of similar size - one kilogram - is being developed in Switzerland by an educational institution.

"Sixty one years ago India and Switzerland signed a friendship treaty. Now the friendship is strengthened with this launch," she added.

India Wednesday successfully launched its 16th remote-sensing satellite, the Rs.160-crore ($32 million) Oceansat-2, to study oceans and climate, and six small European satellites on board a rocket that blasted off from Sriharikota, around 80 km from Chennai.

©IANS