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Israel will hand over a US $18.2 million worth Tauvex II scientific camera to India for launch aboard its GSAT-4 satellite by the end of 2005 as part of an agreement between space agencies of both the countries.
"A lengthy presentation of few items to be investigated and coordinated was given by Elop Electro-Optics Industries Ltd (El-Op), which is developing the camera, last week in the presence of two ISRO scientists and a timetable was worked out," Director of Israel Space Agency, Aby Ha'areven told PTI.
The camera was designed earlier to be launched on board a Russian launcher at a cost of US $15 million and another US $3.2 million is being spent to adopt it to the Indian launcher, Ha'areven said.
Israel signed the contract with El-Op for the supply of the camera in June and the director said the progress in its development has been as per schedule.
The launch is part of the agreement signed between Israel Space Agency and ISRO for scientific cooperation between the two countries in the field of astronomy in the 'ultraviolet' spectrum.
The agreement was signed in December 2003 during the visit of Israel Science and Technology Minister Eliezer Sandberg.
The Tauvex II electro-optical space camera is for scientific exploration and comprises three telescopes for observation in the 'ultraviolet' spectrum for astronomical research of the galaxies.
Research activities based on imagery received from the camera will be performed jointly by academic institutions in both Israel and India.