India to Launch Meteorological SatelliteThe Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plans to launch a geosynchronous meteorological satellite "METSAT," and next Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C3), carrying three spacecraft, including two foreign ones, in 2001-2002 financial year.ISRO is planning to use PSLV to launch METSAT, a satellite that will provide meteorological and data relay services, according to the annual report by the Department of Space released Thursday. "METSAT represents, for the first time, departure from multipurpose INSAT system, in terms of separating the meteorological services," ISRO said, adding it would carry a Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) and a Data Relay Transponder (DRT) to provide meteorological data. Meanwhile, four satellites were planned under INSAT-3 series of satellites. INSAT-3C and INSAT-3A were planned for launch in 2001-2002, to be followed by INSAT-3D and INSAT-3E. |
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