Launch date of Microsat R, Kalamsat satellites begin today: ISRO
New Delhi : The launch countdown for an Indian rocket carrying the Microsat R imaging satellite of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Kalamsat student satellite has begun, said an ISRO official.
"The countdown for the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket launch will start today (Wednesday).
"The countdown duration and its starting time, the time of rocket launch would be announced later," an official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.
The rocket launch was expected to happen at about 11.40pm on Thursday.
"We will be launching the 700-kg Microsat R and Kalamsat with a new PSLV variant.
"To reduce weight and increase the mass, an aluminium tank is being used for the first time in the fourth stage," ISRO Chairman K. Sivan had told IANS earlier.
About PSLV
The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel.
In its normal configuration, the rocket would have six strap-on motors hugging the its first stage. However, the PSLV that would be flying on January 24 with Microsat R and Kalamsat will be a two strap-on motors configuration and is designated as PSLV-DL.
The rocket PSLV-C44 is the first mission of PSLV-DL and is a new variant.
