Busy schedule for ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation as it is planning a series of satellite launches both from India as well as from French Guiana.

"In this financial year, ISRO would launch PSLV--C25 carrying the Mars orbiter anytime after October 21," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan told reporters here in the early hours today.

"As per the schedule, after ejecting the orbiter, it will start its Mars voyage around November 28 or maybe 29," he said.

The agency would send INSAT-3D on board Ariane 5 from French Guiana by the end of this month, he said, adding communication satellite GSAT-14 would be launched on board GSLV on August 6.

GSAT-7 would be launched from French Guiana this year, for which arrangements to ship the satellite out of the country were being done, he said.

SPOT-7 carrying a foreign satellite would be launched on board a PSLV in December this year, he said.

"In January next year, GSLV Mark III experimental mission is planned. Another launch of India's second navigation satellite IRNSS-1D in March 2014 is also planned," he said.

Replying to a query on manned mission to the moon, he said, "Discussions were on with Russia to check the availability of a lander. We are working on it."

Elaborating on the preparedness of the next GSLV, he said over 35 tests have been made after a post flight analysis of the GSLV launch vehicle.