Isros Hopes Dashed

Plans of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to capture a share of the satellite launch market with its polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) have been dashed following the decision of Motorola Corporation to award the launch contracts to China. With PSLVs reliability yet to be established 100 per cent, Motorola will use Chinas Long March rockets to launch 22 of the 66 Iridium satellites. --PTI

The remaining 44 satellites will be launched by rocket carriers in the United

States and Russia, according to Sky Report, a US publication on space industry.

Motorola is setting up a global mobile communication network with a constellation of 66 Iridium satellites in low earth orbits. The network, in which Indian companies have invested Rs 250 crore, is expected to start commercial operation by September 1998.

 

Although Isro was lobbying hard for a share of launch contracts it did not get a single contract, the publication reports.

China will carry two Iridium satellites into space for Motorola this month using its Long March rocket that has recorded four successful launches this year after a string of failures between 1995 and 1996.

Isros PSLV has flown thrice with one failure and two partial successes. Isro is yet develop technology for putting more than one satellite in a single launch to cut costs.