<p>Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed deals to put nine American nano/micro satellites into orbit by the end of 2016, an official said on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>These include a couple of nano/micro US satellites which are likely to be launched by the ISRO this year as piggyback luggage on its own satellite, the official said. <br />Generally, nano satellites are ones that weigh between 1-10 kg while micro satellites weigh from 10-100 kg.<br /><br />"The Astrosat satellite is slated for launch in September. It will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. Some of the micro/nano satellites of the US may also go in that rocket as piggyback luggage," the ISRO official told IANS, preferring anonymity.<br /><br />According to him, the ISRO will be sending up the US satellites on different PSLV rockets.<br /><br />"The contract is to launch all the satellites by the end of 2016," he added.<br />India has successfully completed several multiple satellite launch missions in the past.<br /><br />Meanwhile, ISRO officials are gearing up for the August 27 launch of communication satellite GSAT-6 through its heavier rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-II.<br /><br />"The GSLV-GSAT-6 launch is tentatively fixed for August 27 and work is progressing towards that," the ISRO official said.<br /><br />On the other hand the first developmental flight of GSLV-Mark III rocket with a capacity to launch four ton satellites is expected to happen towards the end of 2016.<br /><br />The rocket will be powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine which is currently under development.<br /><br />The government has allocated Rs.470 crore for the development of the GSLV Mark-III rocket in the Twelfth Five Year Plan.<br /></p>
<p>Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed deals to put nine American nano/micro satellites into orbit by the end of 2016, an official said on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>These include a couple of nano/micro US satellites which are likely to be launched by the ISRO this year as piggyback luggage on its own satellite, the official said. <br />Generally, nano satellites are ones that weigh between 1-10 kg while micro satellites weigh from 10-100 kg.<br /><br />"The Astrosat satellite is slated for launch in September. It will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. Some of the micro/nano satellites of the US may also go in that rocket as piggyback luggage," the ISRO official told IANS, preferring anonymity.<br /><br />According to him, the ISRO will be sending up the US satellites on different PSLV rockets.<br /><br />"The contract is to launch all the satellites by the end of 2016," he added.<br />India has successfully completed several multiple satellite launch missions in the past.<br /><br />Meanwhile, ISRO officials are gearing up for the August 27 launch of communication satellite GSAT-6 through its heavier rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-II.<br /><br />"The GSLV-GSAT-6 launch is tentatively fixed for August 27 and work is progressing towards that," the ISRO official said.<br /><br />On the other hand the first developmental flight of GSLV-Mark III rocket with a capacity to launch four ton satellites is expected to happen towards the end of 2016.<br /><br />The rocket will be powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine which is currently under development.<br /><br />The government has allocated Rs.470 crore for the development of the GSLV Mark-III rocket in the Twelfth Five Year Plan.<br /></p>