SNAP-1, weighing just 6.5kg, the world's most advanced nanosatellite, was launched with another Surrey-built satellite, Tsinghua-1 -- a microsatellite built as a collaborative project with Chinese customer, Tsinghua University.

In Beijing, Tsinghua engineers were able to activate the Tsinghua-1 microsatellite on its first pass at 18:30 BST, 28 June. In Guildford, at approximately 0240 BST, 29 June, the SNAP-1 team at the Surrey Mission Control Centre transmitted commands to the nanosatellite on its first pass over Surrey.

For both spacecraft, these commands immediately activated the satellites' downlink and telemetry systems. Telemetry was received and indicated that all systems on-board both satellites were working as expected.

The two satellites will demonstrate, for the first time, orbital formation flying when SNAP-1 and Tsinghua-1 will rendezvous via an intersatellite link some weeks into the mission.

"We are talking to many companies ... almost all of whom are global satellite manufacturers," said N. Sampath, executive director of Antrix Corp., ISRO's commercial body.

He declined to name the companies involved.

"Antrix Corp. is willing to work along with Indian companies and foreign partners and build satellites once these companies get a licence. It does not mean we will enter into joint ventures," Sampath told AFP.

"Even if the foreign collaborators built satellite systems for their Indian partners we can help these companies by providing crucial components," he said.

Antrix was set up in 1993 for tapping the export market for satellite products and services.

It has offered to build satellite systems for domestic companies following a government policy in May allowing private companies to establish satellites of their own.

The Indian government's Satcom policy allows private companies to establish joint ventures with a foreign equity ceiling of 74 percent to build satellite systems.

Sampath said the focus of the corporation was to involve over 500 small and medium and large scale industries under its umbrella to supply hardware.

"Our focus is to expand the space components industry in the country which will help our local manufacuturers," he said.

The domestic launch and space component industry is expected to be worth more than 50 billion rupees (1.1 billion dollars) in the next five years, he said.