India Plans to Launch Six More Satellites During 2015-16
Till the month of April 2015, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a total of 74 satellites, out of which seven failed to reach the orbit due to launch failures and three failed in the orbit. Now it has been announced that India will be launching six more satellites during 2015-16. Out of the six, two will be communication satellites, three navigation satellites and one space science satellite, ASTROSAT. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, writes down:
Six more satellites are planned to be launched during 2015-16. These are two communication satellites GSAT-6 and GSAT-15; three navigation satellites IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1F & IRNSS-1G; and one space science satellite ASTROSAT.
Furthermore, ISRO has successfully launched 40 foreign satellites belonging to 19 countries, that include four micro and nano satellites built by Indian students using the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. India has also planned to launch 13 more satellites that belong to four other countries using the PSLV.
ISRO said it was to include the technology of ion propulsion system to power the future satellites. Presently, satellite fuel occupies space and makes it heavy, according to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Director, K.Sivan. According to Sivan, the projected technology would be tried, tested and analysed in a communications satellite.
Meanwhile, ISRO is working on another alternative known as the semi-cryogen engine. It is still under development and will be used to power India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-MkIII Rocket in the near future.
