India to launch three more foreign satellites

The country's space agency, which successfully launched Italian satellite Agile last month, has signed agreements for putting into space three more foreign satellites, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

The government is encouraging Antrix Corporation, the marketing arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation, to promote the commercial use of capacity available on space systems, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said in a reply.

A contract was signed for launching the Agile which was successfully put into space on April 23. Agreements have also been signed for launching three more foreign satellites, Chavan said.

ISRO, through Antrix Corporation, has inked commercial agreements with EADS Astrium of Europe to jointly make and supply two commercial communication satellites.

The commercial use of Indian space capabilities and developing alliances for global marketing will be considered after meeting national needs, he said.