"We are encouraging such programmes which help institutions make test satellites," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair told reporters on the sidelines of a book release function. The 50 kg micro-satellite is being designed and fabricated by Anna University's academicians and students as part of a project sponsored by ISRO.

Anusat carries a digital "store and forward" payload for amateur communications. Nair also said tests of the indigenously developed cryogenic engine will be conducted again from March.

Earlier, receiving the book The Economics of India's Space Programme: An Exploratory Analysis written by noted economist U Shankar, he said ISRO's moon mission Chandrayaan-I would be a major milestone in India's space programme.

The programme is cost-effective though the scientists did not have any help from developed nations. It cost only one-third or one-fifth of the programmes of other nations, he said.

C Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister's Economics Advisory Council who released the book, said analysing the economics of space programmes was a difficult task as such schemes involved multiple complex issues.