Another mega event? ISRO announces Friday launch of earth observation satellite, 30 nanosatellites!

New Delhi: After flagging off the country's heaviest rocket – the GSLV Mark-III – the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has revealed its plans to add another feather to its cap with the launch of its earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 and 30 co-passenger satellites this Friday.

The Cartosat-2 series weighs 712 kg and the 30 other satellites includes 29 foreign satellites, one Indian satellite and will be launched aboard its rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the PSLV rocket's XL variant is expected to lift off on Friday morning at 9.29 a.m. from the Sriharikota rocket port.

The 30 satellites will together weigh 243 kg and the total weight of all the 31 satellites, including Cartosat, is about 955 kg, ISRO said.

The rocket will sling the satellites into a 505 km polar sun sunchronous orbit (SSO).

The co-passenger satellites comprise 29 nano satellites from 14 countries - Austria, Belgium, Britain, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the US as well as one Indian nanosatellite.

The 29 international customer nanosatellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between ISRO's commercial arm, the Antrix Corporation Ltd and the international customers. 

(With IANS inputs)