India’s maiden launch of the GSLV Mark 3 rocket June 5 marks a big step forward on the country’s path to greater self sufficiency in space — a strategy India has used to guide its space activities not only in launch, but the construction and operation of telecommunications satellites.
GSAT-9 carries 12 Ku-band transponders that India is offering to neighboring South Asian nations.
The first of the five satellites, GSAT-9, is scheduled to launch in April.