NAST signs CRA with Kyutech for BIRDS-3 Satellite Project for Nepal

Official: BIRDS-3 will have satellites from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Japan
Photo Credits [HERE]

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the independent apex body for progress of science and technology of the country,  has signed the Cooperative Research Agreement (CRA) with Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) making Nepal's involvement in the BIRDS-3 project official. Nepal had been participating from the beginning of the project in hopes that the CRA would go through. The signing comes a week after Ministry of Finance of Government approved the funding for Nepal's first satellite [HERE].

Prof. Dr. Jiba Raj Pokharel, Vice Chancellor of NAST signs CRA Application back in September, 2017
Photo Credits: Kyutech

NAST will still play a crucial role as a stockholder by proposing and validating mission(s) as the BIRDS-3 team, including participants from Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan, are currently in the Mission Design Phase. The Mission Design Review (MDR) is scheduled to be held at Kyutech, Japan on December 28, 2017.

The next process will be for Finance Ministry to release the funds in designated time. This is understood to only happen after the two-phase lower house elections to take place in the coming few weeks.