In a boost to the Indian space startup , Gujarat-based aerospace firmAzista BST Aerospacelaunched its maiden satellite, Azista BST AerospaceFirst Runner(AFR), also called ABA First Runner.
The satellite was launched as part of the Elon Musk-led SpaceX Transporter-8 mission, atop a Falcon 9 rocket, from Space Launch Complex 4E,Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 2.49 am (IST). Azista BST Aerospace is an Indo-German satellite manufacturing joint venture floated by India’s Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd (70% stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (30% stake).
AFR is equipped with an optical remote sensing payload with both panchromatic and multispectral imaging capabilities.