RADHAKRISHNA RAO / BANGALORE
Vehicle will be able to place 4,000kg satellite into geostationary transfer orbit
India plans to have the increased-performance MkIII version of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) ready for launch in 2009. The GSLV-III is being developed to launch a 4,000kg (8,800lb) satellite into geostationary transfer orbit, an increase from the 1,500kg-class capability of the basic vehicle.
The MkIII will be a three-stage booster like the basic GSLV, but with a 110t liquid-fuelled core stage and two strap-on solid rocket motors each with 200t of propellant. The basic GSLV has a 129t solid-fuel core stage, plus four liquid strap-ons each with 40t of propellant.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says it plans to launch six Insat 4 series communications satellites by 2007, increasing the agency's transponder capacity to 250. Two satellites will be dedicated to combined Ku/C-band, all-Ku-band and all-C-band services.
A new series of Earth-observation satellites, including Resourcesat and Cartosat, is being developed by the ISRO for launch by the indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Resourcesat, or IRS-P6, will be launched by the PSLV from Sriharikota this year to continue and enhance the service provided by India's IRS series of Earth-observation spacecraft, which provides data for agriculture, forestry, land and water resources management as well as disaster management.
The delayed Cartosat-1, or IRS-P5, will now be launched by PSLV in 2004-5, according to the ISRO. Cartosat-1's two panchromatic cameras will provide 2.5m resolution images covering a 30km ground swath. The Cartosat-2, capable of providing higher-resolution, scene-specific spot images, is also planned for launch during 2004-5. Cartosat-2's single panchromatic camera will provide better than 1m resolution images over a 10km (6 mile) swath.
India plans to build an active microwave remote-sensing satellite, Risat, for launch in 2006. Risat would be able to see the earth through darkness, dust and clouds.
ISRO chairman Dr K Kasturirangan says a dedicated education satellite, Edusat, is being planned. He believes a satellite-based programme could strengthen India's educational infrastructure. Edusat could broadcast lectures to remote areas that do not have the required facilities or human resources.
Source: Flight International
