BANGALORE: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be launching four satellites this year. The satellites in the pipeline include Cartosat-1 & Carrostat-2 - remote sensing mapping satellites, Insat 4A and Insat 4C.

Cartosat-1 would be launched with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharkota. Clearances are awaited from the Europe launch agency Arianespace for launch of the other satellites.

ISRO would also be launching an Italian satellite - Agile - early next year on the PSLV. This would mark the maiden launch of a foreign satellite from India.

ISRO also had agreed to a tele-medicine link with Afghanistan. A pilot project to a hospital in Kabul with the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) has already been initiated. A team of Afghan doctors would be trained to use the telemedicine link, which would cost around Rs 4,00,000/- and would be interfaced with the specialists in New Delhi.

Customised medical software integrated with computer hardware and medical diagnostic instruments connected to a VSAT at each terminal at each location make up a telemedicine system.