Centre clears Isro's Rs 3,090-crore PSLV augmentation

The programme would help meet demand for launching four to five satellites every year, with an emphasis on enhancing the level of participation by domestic industry

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its nod for the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) continuation programme covering 15 operational flights of PSLV, starting from C36 to C50, for an estimated Rs 3,090 crore.

The PSLV continuation programme would enable the future launch of satellites for earth observation, navigation, space sciences and the potential clinching of contracts for commercial launches.

According to an official government release, it was estimated that the project would require Rs 3,090 crore, including the cost of 15 PSLV vehicles, programme elements, management and their launch.

The programme would help meet the demand for launching four to five satellites every year, with an emphasis on enhancing the level of participation by the domestic industry. All the 15 operational flights would be completed during 2017-2020.

The existing PSLV operational flights deployed for launching satellites were sanctioned in 2008, the release stated.

The operationalisation of PSLV has made the country self-reliant in launching satellites for earth observation, disaster management, navigation and space sciences.

PSLV has emerged as a versatile launch vehicle to carry out sun-synchronous polar orbit (SSPO), geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and the low-inclination low-earth orbit (LEO) missions.

With the successful launch of PSLV-C26 on October 16, 2014, PSLV had completed three developmental and 25 operational flights, and was successful in the last 27 flights.