Six satellites including two for communications to launch in 2015-16

MUMBAI: India is planning to launch six more satellites during 2015-16, of which two are communication satellites – GSAT-6 and GSAT-15.

The Rajya Sabha was today informed by MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office and minister of state in the Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh about the same.

The other satellites include three Navigation satellites IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1F and IRNSS-1G; and one space science satellite ASTROSAT.

In addition, plans are also afoot to launch 13 more satellites from four countries using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Antrix Corporation, which is the commercial arm of Department of Space, is already marketing remote sensing data (images) from Indian Remote Sensing satellites in the global market through establishment of International Ground Stations and reseller network.

As on April 2015, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 74 satellites. Out of these, seven satellites failed to reach the orbit due to launch failure and three satellites failed in orbit.

In addition, ISRO has successfully launched 40 foreign satellites from 19 countries and four micro and nano satellites built by students of Indian Universities using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).