Facing crisis, Isro on the lookout for satellites on rent

BANGALORE: Faced with rising demand but short supply of transponders, Indian Space Research Organization ( Isro) is mulling over taking foreign satellites on rent to tide over the crisis.

On Saturday Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan said under techno-commercial process efforts are being made to acquire more transponders to face any eventuality.

"We had planned 500 transponders at the end of the 11th Five Year Plan. But due to various reasons, including unsuccessful missions and some satellites completing their life cycles, we have 175 transponders as against 211 in the beginning of the 11th Five Year Plan. We have already taken 86 foreign transponders on lease. Now, we are contemplating getting transponders on rent or lease for a couple of years. We are also looking at the possibility of getting an in-obit foreign satellite moved to our slots for a short period," he said.