Countdown begins for Astrostat, India's first satellite for astronomical study

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to launch the Indian rocket carrying seven satellites including India's ASTROSAT on 28 September, 2015.

The 50-hour countdown for the launch of nation's first satellite ASTROSAT began today at 8 am.

The polar satellite launch vehicle PSLV-C30 will put the satellite into a low-earth, equatorial orbit.

PSLV-C30 will launch ASTROSAT weighing 1,513 kg, apart from four from the US and one each from Indonesia and Canada on Monday.

ASTROSAT will be launched at 10 am on Monday from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The mission life of Astrosat is five years. It is aimed at studying black holes, neutron stars and extra-galactic systems by making observations in the optical, ultraviolet and X-Ray frequencies.

Its co-passengers on the PSLV-C30 would be six smaller satellites of foreign nations, including four from the United States and one each from Indonesia and Canada.

(With ANI inputs)