NEW DELHI: After the fruitless launch of direction-finding satellite IRNSS-1H, Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) is ready to launch a remote sensing satellite of Cartosat-2 series along with 30 nanosatellites of overseas nations in the second half of December.

 Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Dr K Sivan said, "Isro will be launching a series of satellites from December onwards. We are targeting to launch Cartosat along with 30 nanosatellites of foreign countries in the second half of December."

 Dr K Sivan said, "The substitute satellite for IRNSS-1A (the first navigation satellite whose three atomic clocks, meant to give precise location data, had blocked working last year) will be launched soon after that. Both these launches will be from the first launch pad at Sriharikota as the second launch pad will be active in launching three GSLV rockets, including the Chandrayaan-2 mission in March. "If for any reason, Cartosat launch is delayed in December, it will also stand the launch of replacement satellite IRNSS-1I as both these launches have been intended from the first launch pad."

The three GSLV launches, which will entail two GSLV Mk II and one GSLV Mk III (Isro's fat boy), will be from the second launch pad at Sriharikota. Instead of PSLV (which was used for launching Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008), Isro is using GSLV Mk II for the second lunar mission as the payload is heavier this time (combined launch mass 3,250 kg). The payload will represent orbiter, Lander, and rover.

Dr  K Sivan said, "After the IRNSS-1H satellite collapse, curative measures will be in use in all rockets before the launches." Though the inspection into reasons for the heat shield problem is still going on, "preliminary findings suggested a defect in the pyro elements of the rocket which deal with the stage separation mechanism".

The VSSC director Dr K Sivan said the team inquiring the breakdown of IRNSS-1H launches will present its inquiry report much before the forthcoming launches.

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