Indian Space Research Organisation is scheduled to launch its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-8 carrying the Italian scientific satellite Agile and India's Advanced Avionics Module from Sriharikota on April 23, which will be the first fully commercial launch of Indian space agency. "The final preparations are on in full swing at Satish Dhawan Space centre at Sriharikota. We expect a smooth launch," sources in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre said.
Besides its commercial significance, PSLV-C8 also stands out since it is a 'core alone' vehicle to be flown without six strap-on booster motors as the weight of Agile and AMM
together is only 540 kg. In normal configuration with strap-on motors, PSLV could put a satellites weighing upto 1600 kg in the orbit, the sources said.
For carrying the 360-kg Italian satellite, meant for astronomical studies, Indian Space Department's commercial wing Antrix Corporation would receive a fee from the Italian space agency.
The Italian satellite, to be put into Polar Synchronous Orbit, will have payloads to probe gamma ray bursts, pulsars and supernova remnants.
The AMM, weighing 185 kg, would be carried as a second payload with an advanced computer for conducting futuristic studies of electric and electronic equipment being used in aeroplanes and space vehicles, the sources said.
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