India To Test Reusable Launch Vehicle Next Month
15 June, New Delhi
The government today said, country will test reusable launch vehicle next month as this technology can bring down costs significantly of launching satellites.
Minister for State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh informed this while addressing a news conference in New Delhi to highlight the landmark of the first anniversary of the NDA government in the arena of space.
He said, the Indian Space Research (ISRO) will also launch Astrosat, India’s first dedicated satellite for astronomy by September this year. Dr Singh said, this is in its initial stages and there are multiple experiments which need to be completed. The first launch is in July this year. The minsiter said, it will reduce the cost by one-tenth.
The Minister said over the past one year, the space department has launched 11 satellites. Dr Singh said, the country will give more emphasis to the development of space missions like the Mangalyan.
ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, the reusable launch vehicle will be landing first time in the ocean and the ultimate attempt is to make it land at an air-strip at Sriharikota. Kumar said, India will complete the launch of two satellites of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) series next year and three satellites, in the subsequent year.
Kumar, who is also the Space secretary, said that the country’s lunar mission will take three more years for the satellite to launch.
Speaking about the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), Kumar said the images received from the mission are in process validating and analysing.
On the occasion, the Minister also launched an app named Sakaar for andriod devices developed by Indian Research Space Organisation.
Sakaar will provide live view of a physical, real world environment whose elements are supplemented by computer-generated 3D models, animations and videos.
The app consists of 3D models of Mars Mission, rockets, and videos of INSAT and 3D predicting cyclones. It can be downloaded through the website www.sac.gov.in/SACSITE/sakaar/index.html.