ISRO to launch imaging satellite Cartostat-2B in mid-May
21 Apr 2010
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch remote sensing earth observation satellite Cartostat-2B, in the second week of May, using the PSLV launch vehicle.
ISRO will use its tested PSLV-C15 launch vehicle to position Cartostat-2B in the polar sun-synchronous orbit, minister of state for science and technology (independent charge) Prithviraj Chavan informed the Lok Sabha today.
It will also launch communication satellites into geo-synchronous transfer orbit using the GSLV launch vehicle, the minister stated.
The 700 kg Cartosat-2B will carry a state-of-the-art panchromatic camera having a spatial resolution of less than one metre and will find applications in urban and rural infrastructure development and management, geographical information system (GIS) and other such areas, he said.
The minister said, European and US space agencies have shown interest in using the Indian launch vehicle to send their instruments to space.
ISRO sources said the remote sensing satellite is now en route to Sriharikota from where it will be launched by PSLV-16, along with four other satellites, on May 9.