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BANGALORE: Indian Space Research Organisation – ISRO – has placed an order worth 500 crore rupee with European Space Agency-Arianespace for the launch of commercial satellites. This was disclosed by ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan here on saturday. He said, commercial agreements have been signed with Arianespace the launch of GSAT-8 in 2011 and GSAT-10 in 2012. Arianespace has so far launched 12 Indian satellites. Radhakrishnan said, ISRO has also renewed the five-year contract with Europe’s leading satellite system specialist – EADS Astrium – for joint marketing of satellites.
He said, Megha-Tropiques and SARAL satellites, being jointly developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES, will be launched in May and December 2011. Radhakrishnan said, ISRO and CNES will continue to work together and explore new domains, including climate change and other frontier areas.