India’s External Affairs Ministry, NSL sign MoU to provide assistance for launch of Nepal’s Munal satellite

The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding to provide grant assistance for the launch of Munal satellite.

Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from MEA and Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL signed the MoU.

Dr Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Surendra Thapa, Chargé d'affaires of Nepali Embassy and Dr. Abhas Maskey, Founder, Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN) were also present on the occasion.

During the visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar to Nepal to co-chair the 7th JCM meeting, he witnessed the exchange of this Launch Service Agreement for the launch of Munal Satellite between NSIL and NAST, on 04 January 2024.

Munal Satellite is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal, under the aegis of NAST.

APN, a Nepali space startup, has assisted Nepali students in the design and fabrication of this satellite. The satellite aims to build a vegetation density database of the Earth’s surface.

This satellite is expected to be launched soon on NSIL’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.