Satellite to study stars to be launched

Astrosat, satellite to study stars is expected to be launched sometime next year

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday said it was developing satellites to study stars and the Sun. A S Kiran Kumar, director of Space Applications Centre, Isro, said, “The satellite, Astrosat (which will study stars will be unique in three aspects — UV rays, visible and X-rays. Even Hubble does not have this aspect. Though Hubble is big, Astrosat will be a small one.” He noted, while the Hubble was 2.4 metre in diameter, Astrosat's would be 300 mm. The satellite is expected to be launched next year. The other project is to send the Aditya satellite, to study the Sun.  He said work was in progress and the launch was expected in three to four years from now.

On the India's first interplanetary spacecraft, Mars Obiter Mission, K Radhakrishnan, chairman, Isro said that \"the Mission is progressing well and performance are satisfactory\".

A S Kiran Kumar, Director of Space Applications Centre (SAC) ISRO said that currently it is around 35 million kms away from the Earth orbit. Isro planned one trajectory in April, but since there is no need now, it was decided to do one in June 2014 and two more in August and September.

"As planned it will reach on September 24, 2014,\" said Kumar.

India's first interplanetary spacecraft, Mars Orbiter was successfully launched on November 5, 2013 at 14:38 hrs (IST), by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C25, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Mars Mission (which was executed on only one third of Nasa's cost of Mars Mission and in first attempt itself it was lifted off while Nasa's first attempt failed) and the cryogenic engine development.

ISRO, which successfully launched a GSLV with indigeonous cryogenic engine would conduct an experimental launch of GSLV Mark III in June this year, said Radhakrishnan. Another PSLV carrying a French satellite SPOT 7 and four other foreign satellites were also to be launched in the same month, he said.