The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going to launch nine micro/nano satellites for the United States of America in 2015-16. This is the first time that ISRO will launch satellites for the US. According to reports, Antrix Corporation Limited, which is the commercial arm of ISRO, has taken up the task of launching the satellites. They will be piggybacked on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs).
ISRO has, till date, launched 45 satellites for international customers, covering a total of 19 countries. The US will be the 20th country to be added to ISRO’s list. The organisation is also supposed to hold the first Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD). This is a series of technology demonstrations that are said to be the the first step in realising the goal of a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully re-usable launch vehicle.
Further, according to a PTI report, Dr K. Sivan, director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, said that ISRO is currently gearing up to launch the fully indigenous developed Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D6, which will be launched at the end of the month. The launch of GSAT 6 will offer stimulus to the communication industry in India.
The space research organisation has also put its indigenously developed cryogenic engine for the GSLV-Mark-III for long duration testing and. This can carry satellites weighing up to four tonnes. The organisation has of course also been praised for achieving the Mangalyaan Mars mission recently.
This made India the first Asian country to successfully conduct a Mars mission and the fourth country to achieve it globally. The Mangalyaan mission was also the cheapest Mars mission ever accomplished, and ISRO is the first space agency to accomplish a Mars orbiter mission in its first attempt. It is also India’s first interplanetary mission, and was launched in November 2013. The space probe has been orbiting Mars since September 2014.
According to reports, having successfully launched the Mars mission, India is now planning to attempt a mission to Venus. The organisation is also looking to set up a launch pad in southern Tamil Nadu.