India to launch four satellites in December
By IANSTuesday, September 14, 2010
CHENNAI - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch four satellites within a span of one week in December, a top space scientist said Tuesday.
“We will be launching the satellites this December. Currently the two rockets are being assembled,” Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director P.S. Veeraghavan told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The two rockets that will fly towards the heavens are the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) and the heavier geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).
According to Veeraghavan, the PSLV will carry three payloads -Resourcesat and two small satellites each weighing around 90 kg made in Singapore and Russia.
The GSLV will launch the INSAT series communication satellite.
Veeraghavan said the space agency is working towards the goal of doubling the number of rocket launches to eight per year.
He said the agency earns around Rs.1,000 crore from selling remote sensing data.
Earlier, at a function, Veeraghavan received the next generation strap on motor case - the PSOM-XL empty shell - fabricated by Ramakrishna Engineering Company that will be fitted on next generation PSLV rockets.
Strap-on motors are additional motors hugging the PSLV rocket to provide additional upward thrust during the initial stages of launch.
