Article Posted on : - Apr 17, 2011

PSLV-C16, carrying three satellites, will be launched at 10:12 hrs (IST) on April 20. A file photo.

CHENNAI (PTI): The countdown for the April 20 launch of the country's latest remote sensing satellite Resourcesat-2 and two small spacecraft on board PSLV C16 rocket from the Sriharikota spaceport, 90 km from here, will begin from Monday.

With the Launch Authorisation Board for the mission giving its green signal at its meeting at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on Saturday, the 54-hour long countdown will commence at 4:12 AM on Monday.

The 98 kg YOUTHSAT, an Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies and 106 kg X-SAT, a microsatellite for imaging applications built by Nanyang Technological University Singapore, will also be placed in orbit.

The LAB cleared the launch of PSLV-C16 at 10:12 hrs on April 20 after reviewing readiness of the launch vehicle, spacecraft systems and ground stations, an Indian Space Research Organisation statement said today.

The ISRO built 1,206-kg RESOURCESAT-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite to facilitate study and management of natural resources.

During countdown, propellant-filling operations of liquid propellant second stage (PS2) and fourth stage (PS4) of the launch vehicle will be carried out, ISRO said.

Mandatory checks on the launch vehicle and spacecraft - including charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks will also be performed, besides checking the readiness of launch infrastructure and communication networks.