India to launch five foreign satellites for a fee June 30

Chennai, June 20 (IANS) India will put into space five foreign satellites June 30 using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket for an undisclosed sum, said the Indian space agency.

In a statement issued Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said a PSLV launch is scheduled June 30 from its rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here.

The rocket which is expected to blast off at 9.49 a.m. will carry a 714-kg French earth observation satellite SPOT-7; 14-kg AISAT of Germany; NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) from Canada each weighing 15 kg; and the 7-kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

These five satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements that Antrix Corporation has entered into with the respective foreign agencies.

All the five satellites have been integrated with the rocket and the final checks are progressing, ISRO said.

According to ISRO, the Mission Readiness Review (MRR) Committee and the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) are meeting June 27, to review the progress of prelaunch activities.

After the clearance from LAB, the 49-hour count-down for the mission will commence at 8:49 a.m June 28.