ISRO to launch GSAT-18 on October 4
Posted on: 27/Sep/2016 11:23:11 AM
ISRO is now focused on the upcoming launch of communication satellite GSAT-18 on October 4. ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar at a press conference said that ISRO plans to launch the GSAT-18 communication satellite from French Guiana on October 4, the Resourcesat 2A on board a PSLV rocket in November and its GSLV Mk III by the end of this year.
PSLV C-35, carrying India’s SCATSAT-1 meant for ocean and weather studies and seven other satellites including from US and Canada was launched yesterday from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at ISRO’s Sriharikota facility.
B. Jayakumar, director, PSLV-C35 said: We have proved that PSLV can undertake any complex mission. All the satellites are positioned very precisely into the orbits. It is a very complex and longest mission PSLV has ever undertaken. For one week the satellite will function in radiometer mode and later the Ku-band mode will start functioning. This was altogether a different project.
ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar said: The Scatsat 1 has a different local time descending node (the time in which the satellite crosses the equator) than the other satellites and we had to fine tune the launch accordingly and the scientists have done a commendable job. We will re-orbit the Mangalyan next year so that it is capable of withstanding long eclipse. The batteries in the Mangalyan were designed only for a few months and with the extended we have to make sure that it does not stay away from the Sun for an extended period. Pakistan is not showing interest in the SAARC satellite.
