BANGALORE, India � The U.S. government has cleared the way for Boeing Satellite Systems to open talks with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to jointly build and market communications satellites.
"Our government recently approved a license authorizing Boeing Satellite Systems to engage in discussions and share data with the ISRO on the division of responsibilities for possible joint cooperation in the development and marketing of communication satellites," said Kenneth Juster, undersecretary of Commerce and head of its Bureau of Industry and Security.
Juster made the announcement here during a five-day India-U.S. conference on space science, applications and commerce. Boeing Satellite Systems is a subsidiary of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Corp.
The first jointly-developed satellite should be ready for the global market within two years and should be similar to ISRO's INSAT satellites. ISRO is talking to Boeing about incorporating some of Boeing payloads into the new satellites, ISRO officials said.
The partners will also consider whether to offer launch services to other countries, since ISRO believes it can provide them at much lower costs.
Juster declined to comment on the launch issue. Generally, customers for U.S.-made satellites satellites with U.S.- made components are prohibited from using non-U.S. launch services.
Creation of the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation group and ending U.S. trade sanctions imposed on India after its nuclear testing in 1998 has resulted in a significant increase in exports of sophisticated U.S. high-tech goods to India. Juster said Washington has approved 423 Indian applications for such imports, and is reviewing another 200 applications.
Juster said that the U.S. has also effectively lifted the sanctions imposed on India.
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