India plans to set up satellite tracking station in Vietnam

India is setting up a new ground station in Vietnam to monitor satellites and upgrading an existing facility in Indonesia, with New Delhi finally waking up to proactive “space diplomacy” of Beijing.

India is keen to set up the new station in Vietnam in collaboration with the Association of South East Asian Nations or Asean. This is going to be the first major project coming out of collaboration between India and Asean in the field of space technology, although Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched satellites of several members of the 10-nation bloc through bilateral arrangements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed the project with his Asean counterparts at Nay Pyi Taw.

 The prime minister attended the India-Asean summit at the capital of Myanmar on Wednesday. He is also understood to have recently asked the Isro to speed up the project in collaboration with the Asean.

The new India-Asean station in Vietnam will primarily track launch vehicles and satellites.