Isro plans to launch its heaviest satellite in December

The Indian Space Research Organisation will undertake its heaviest yet launch in December with the GSLV Mk-III rocket which will carry the 3.2-tonne GSAT-19E communication satellite from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Madras Institute of Technology Alumni Association in Chennai on Friday, Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the GSLV Mk-III rocket's flight hardware is getting assembled for the launch.

''This rocket will carry up 4-tonne capacity satellites in future. This also has a new cryogenic engine system,'' he said.

He also said Isro's next launch would be an INSAT-3DR satellite with the GSLV Mk-II rocket next month. This weather satellite will give vertical temperature and humidity profiles. ''We plan to put 6 to 8 launches per year and we are trying to work with industry to make sure this capability increases to 12 to 18 launches a year,'' he added.

''Currently, we have 36 satellites providing a range of services including the position services, remote sensing and weather prediction. Isro had completed 137 missions with 82 spacecraft missions and 55 launch vehicles,'' he said.

The Chandrayan-II mission which will carry a lander and rover will be launched next year. R Sivan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, who is also an alumnus of MIT said, ''The re-ignition technology will be tested in the flight of PSLV-C35 mission which will carry SCATSAT and ALSAT. After sending the SCATSAT satellite the PSLV will be switched off and re-ignited to launch ALSAT in a different orbit.''