ISRO-India-Bhutan: The Ground-Earth station at Bhutan, a testament for India-Bhutan relationship
- The ISRO delegation met dignitaries from Bhutan, including Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, H.E. Dr Tandi Dorji.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) delegation led by the space agency’s chairman S. Somanath on Monday discussed expanding India-Bhutan space cooperation and ways to deepen tech ties further.
Bangalore. The ground station for India – Bhutan Sat at Thimphu was inaugurated, on March 13.
This ground station will enable Bhutan to receive data from India-Bhutan SAT, pertaining to its territory, directly from the satellite and process in real-time.
A delegation led by ISRO Chairman and Secretary Department of Space, S. Somanath, discussed a wide range of issues on expanding space tech cooperation through capacity building and focus on the application of space data and technology across sectors for the benefit of people of Bhutan. Both sides reviewed experience and milestones achieved, including launch of joint Satellite last year.
On November 26, 2022, ISRO launched nine nano-satellites, including BhutanSat, as part of the PSLV C-54 or EOS-06 mission. BhutanSat is a Bhutanese satellite.
The data from BhutanSat will be used for assessing inland water quality, forest and biomass cover, snow and glacier cover, and Bhutan’s geology and hydrology. This will benefit the people of Bhutan.
The Embassy of India in Bhutan said on Twitter that the Ground-Earth station is a testament of the vision of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to take the India-Bhutan partnership to new and emerging areas critical to 21st century.
Somanath, Chairman ISRO and Secretary Department of Space (DOS) along with Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Karma Donnen Wangdi, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan and Sudhakar Delela, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan inaugurated it. Director of ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre, and senior ISRO scientists involved in India-Bhutan SAT realization, ground station establishment and training were also present.
