Article Posted on : - May 13, 2009

ISRO logo.

HYDERABAD (BNS): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a plan to launch re-usable rockets. Rockets on the lines of US space shuttles will be developed by ISRO to cut down expenses drastically, said G Madhvan Nair, Chairman of ISRO.

“ISRO will launch these re-usable rockets within next 10 to 15 years,” Nair told PTI on the sidelines of AV Rama Rao Technology Award Lecture on Advances in Space Materials on the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations at IICT on Monday.

“ISRO, which has started launching satellites of other countries, was earning revenue of $20 million and wants to scale up the numbers of such launches.” "As of now, 16 satellites have been launched and we are slowly ramping up," he added.

He said ISRO is tuned to developing programmes to solve the people’s problems like better communication system, imaging planet earth, improving resolution capability, improving radar composition, developing technology for satellites, and forecasting weather that will give information to villagers of the type of soil, ocean and fishing activity.

Nair said this year three satellites-home grown cryogenic engine on Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and two PSLVs will be launched. The PSLV will carry Ocean SAT in addition to Scatrometre that will provide information of the tidal wave heights useful for fishermen, interaction of the ocean with atmosphere besides other ocean related information.