The Times of India reports that ISRO will launch its first lunar spacecraft, Chandrayaan, in September. Officials had hoped to launch the orbiter earlier, but assembly and testing of the vehicle is taking longer than expected.
Buoyed by the recent success of its PSLV C-9 rocket, ISRO is also pushing ahead with plans to grab a share of the global launch market, the Gasworld website reports. Speaking to reporters recently, ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said the nation is well positioned despite restrictions by some governments on the launch of military spacecraft aboard foreign rockets.
“Our domestic requirement is four to five launches per year and we are trying to increase commercial launches,” Nair told reporters. “We are favourably placed since our costs are about 80% of international launching costs. But some countries have restrictions on launching their satellites from other countries, as well as Indian launch vehicles. The technology which we use is applicable for dual purpose - hence some of these countries have reservations.”
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