Countdown for launch of Indian rocket with 20 satellites progressing smoothly

Cheni, June 21: The countdown for the launch of Cartosat-2 series and 19 other satellites on Wednesday morning is progressing smoothly, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said. The satellites’ health is being checked and the preparations for the filling of the fuel for the second rocket’s second stage/engine is under progress, the ISRO said on Tuesday. “The countdown is progressing normally,” it said. On Wednesday at 9.26 a.m., Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will lift off from the rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh with 20 satellites. The rocket’s main cargo will be India’s 725.5 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation. This satellite is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B. The other 19 satellites weighing totally about 560 kg are from US, Cada, Germany and Indonesia as well as one satellite each from Sathyabama University-Cheni and College of Engineering-Pune. IANS