ISRO moves ahead for a new world record; to launch 50 satellites in next three year
New Delhi, August 13: With an aim to meet the growing demand for space applications in India, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a total of 50 satellites including a second outing to the Moon and two test flights of a new rocket-small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV).
Chairman of ISRO Dr K Sivan speaking to the reporters in Bengaluru at the ISRO headquarters after the inauguration of a bust of Dr Vikram Sarabhai said that the space agency will launch 50 satellites in the next three years. Notably, Dr Vikram Sarabhai was the first Chairman of ISRO whose 99th birth anniversary was celebrated on Sunday.
Dr Sivan said that two launches will be planned every month from February next year which will be a record in the history of the space programme. The Chairman also added that Chandrayaan II mission to the moon with a lander is planned in January next year. ISRO will also launch two demonstration flights of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle in mid of next year.
“These launch vehicles will cost a tenth of PSLV and compared to 45 days needed to build a launch vehicle, this will need only 72 hours. Also, it needs only three to four people as opposed to 300 people for PSLV. We can launch satellites of 500-700 kg and we hope the industry can soon start making this,” he added.
Dr Sivan also announced ISRO's plans to launch an exclusive television channel in regional languages, and dedicated to popularise science, promote scientific temper among people and conduct training camps for school students. "Within the next three-four months, there will be a television channel launched to reach people in rural parts of India on how the space programme can benefit the common man. Information on India's space missions and their applications are not reaching the people in entirety. Our effort through the channel is to make people aware of the benefits of the space programme,” ISRO’s chairman concluded.
Besides, ISRO also plans to set up an incubation centre for start-ups with ideas in the field of space technology.