ISRO PSLV-C9 launch 10 satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch ten satellites including country's latest remote sensing satellite and eight nano satellites (Monday April 28). The satellites to be lifted off from Sriharikota will be carried by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -PSLV-C9.

The cluster of satellites include the Indian Mini Satellite (IMPS-1) also. Latest remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT-2A, weighing about 690 kgs, carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic camera (PAN) which is capable of taking black-and-white pictures in visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

It would be used for mapping purposes and management of natural resources. The Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) developed by ISRO, weighing 83 kgs, also incorporates many technologies. It is an experimental remote sensing satellite, it would also be used as a platform for trying out advanced technology in the coming launches, officials said.

The eight nano satellites, built by universities and research institutions in Canada and Germany, are being launched under a commercial agreement. Of the eight nano satellites, six form a cluster called NLS-4. These satellites were built to test nano technologies for use in satellites.
The weight of these nano satellites vary from three to 16 kgs with a total weight of 50 kgs. "The launch campaign is progressing satisfactorily at Satish Dhawan Space Centre", ISRO officials said. The satellites were already integrated with the launch vehicle and the vehicle was moved to the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, they said.

The objective of the 'Indian human space flight' is to develop a space vehicle to carry a crew of two to low earth orbit and return safely to a pre-determined destination. The duration of the proposed mission is about a week.

There will be provision for emergency mission abort and crew rescue. The main task before ISRO is "man-rating" of indigenously built Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which would launch an autonomous orbital mission vehicle.

"The reliability of GSLV is 90 per cent. Man-rating means its reliability should be 99.99 per cent", the official said. Then facilities will have be established to train astronauts, besides designing of crew module. In January 2007, ISRO demonstrated India's capability in important technologies such as aero-thermo structures, deceleration and floatation systems, navigation, guidance and control, with the successful launch, in-orbit operation, re-entry and recovery of SRE-1 (space capsule recovery experiment).