India and Nepal Collaborate to Launch Munal Satellite

The Ministry of External Affairs and NewSpace India Limited have signed an agreement to help launch Nepal's Munal satellite. Developed under the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, the satellite aims to create a vegetation density database of Earth's surface. The launch is expected soon.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), have signed an agreement to assist in launching the Nepal-built Munal satellite, as confirmed by an official statement released on Saturday.

Munal is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the MEA disclosed.

Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN), a Nepalese space startup, assisted Nepalese students in designing and fabricating the satellite, which aims to create a vegetation density database of Earth's surface, according to the MEA.

The MoU was signed by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) at the MEA, and Arunachalam A, Director at NSIL.

Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary of NAST, Surendra Thapa, Chargé d'affaires at the Nepali Embassy, and Abhas Maskey, Founder of APN, were also present during the signing ceremony.

During his visit to Nepal to co-chair the 7th Joint Commission meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar witnessed the exchange of the Launch Service Agreement for Munal Satellite between NSIL and NAST on January 4.

The satellite is expected to be launched soon on NSIL's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies.)