India and Israel have survived against huge odds in a very
hostile neighbourhood and in an effort to find suitable solutions, the two
countries will jointly explore using space technologies as a counter measure to
thwart the menace of terrorism while also meeting the civilian applications of
space.
Both Jerusalem and New Delhi have deep strengths
in space technology. Born within the same year, both have to spend massive amounts
of money to secure their borders from their neighbours. The
heads of the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) met this week in Bengaluru to draw up a roadmap of
cooperation in this high technology sector.
If all goes well early in 2017 two
Israeli Nano-satellites will also be launched from Sriharikota. Avi Blasberger, director general of the Israel
Space Agency (ISA), confirmed that one key area of cooperation being explored
is "remote sensing using microwaves". In
common parlance, this sophisticated technology is often termed as "spy
satellites" since one can keep a track of one's enemy 24x7 in all weather
conditions.
It is no secret that both Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have a mutual fan
club and both have respect for each other's styles of governance. Israel
has some of the best radar imaging technology and in 2008, India launched on
behalf of Israel, a satellite called TecSAR. This small 295-kg satellite was
successfully placed in orbit using India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV) launched from Sriharikota. Israel
lacked an indigenous rocket that could launch a satellite of this nature and
India's east facing rocket port is ideally suited with a flight path that goes
over oceans as against the Israeli rocket port. This
TecSAR reconnaissance satellite has the capability of mapping object at a
resolution of less than a meter from its perch some 500 km above earth. This
eye in the sky reports suggest helped Israel map the military capabilities of
its hostile neighbours. It was considered one of the most advanced spy
satellites of its kind.
Later, India also procured from Israel a similar satellite
which New Delhi named RISAT-2. In 2009 this 300 kg special beast that could
track as some reports suggest objects as small as 10 cm was hoisted into space
using the PSLV.
This satellite from its 400-km orbit has been
actively used by India to monitor activities in camps across the border in
Pakistan to thwart infiltration bids by terrorists.
Experts say images from RISAT-2 helped in India
launching the "surgical strikes" across the line of control this year
that resulted in Indian military annihilating several "terrorist launch
pads" in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Both countries have indeed secured their borders
using these special microwave imaging satellites. Blasberger for the first time
confirmed that "the space agencies of the two countries were not directly
involved" in India launching the Israeli satellite 'TecSAR' and in India
procuring its clone RISAT-2. Blasberger said both ISA and ISRO work in the
area of supporting the civilian programs.
Blasberger said "Israel will be happy to
provide more RISAT-2 type reconnaissance satellites to India" if New Delhi
made a request. But what is most significant is that the two countries have now
set up a special working group to enhance and explore how best "microwave
imaging" can help both countries. India
has also developed and launched its own special Radar imaging satellite called
RISAT-1. It may be noted that radar satellites are also very helpful in mapping
floods and other agriculture related activities. Blasberger
said "Israel has special capabilities in fabricating precision cameras and
miniaturisation of space equipment". On the other hand he felt India has
highly developed rockets that can deploy heavy satellites in space. This
"complementarity" can be a win-win for both countries which have
advanced space technologies at their disposal, according to Blasberger.
The heads of two space agencies have also agreed to set up
joint teams that would explore how to build bridges between the two space
fairing nations in cutting edge areas like "electrical propulsion, remote
sensing and communications".
Rather upbeat after his visit to some of the
ISRO facilities in Bengaluru, Blasberger felt "working together will
cultivate more work for the future". It
seems hostile neighbours on earth is forcing India and Israel to join hands in
space to secure their future.
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