India and Nepal Strengthen Space Ties: MEA Signs MoU with NSIL to Launch Nepal's Munal Satellite

In a significant development for India-Nepal relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the launch of Nepal's first indigenous satellite, Munal. This satellite, developed under the aegis of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), marks a historic milestone in the space cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

The Munal satellite, named after Nepal's national bird, is a symbol of the country's growing ambitions in space technology. Designed and fabricated with the assistance of APN, a Nepali space startup, Munal is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Nepali students and scientists. The primary mission of the satellite is to create a detailed vegetation density database of Earth's surface, which will be instrumental in environmental monitoring and agricultural planning.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, noting that the satellite will be launched on NSIL’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on a gratis basis. This gesture underscores India’s commitment to supporting Nepal in its space endeavors, further strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Surendra Thapa, Charge D’ Affaires of the Embassy of Nepal, who attended the MoU signing event, expressed his gratitude to the MEA and praised the deepening relationship between India and Nepal. He remarked, “India and Nepal have engaged in every field. Now this engagement has gone to outer space. We used to say that Nepal-India relations are as high as the Himalayas and as deep as the Indian Ocean. Now we can say that it is as high as our Munal Satellite.”

The foundation for this cooperation was laid earlier this year when the Launch Service Agreement for the Munal satellite was signed on January 4 during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Nepal. The signing of the MoU between MEA and NSIL is the next step in bringing this ambitious project to fruition.

The launch of the Munal satellite is expected to take place soon, and it will be a landmark event in the history of Nepal’s space program. The collaboration between India and Nepal in space technology not only signifies the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations but also opens new avenues for cooperation in cutting-edge scientific research and development.

This initiative is also expected to inspire future generations of Nepali scientists and engineers, fostering a new era of innovation and technological advancement in the region.