|
New Meteorological Satellite for India
The Indian government on 17/11/2000 approved the indigenous construction of a meteorological satellite (METSAT) to support the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) in cyclone warning and weather imagery. Estimated to cost Rs 75 crore, the satellite would be launched from India with a modified indigenous polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).
The foreign exchange component of the project would be Rs 39 crore. The launch was targeted for October 2001. A need to build and launch the Metsat was felt after the loss of Insat-2E, as per the government officials. The METSAT would carry a pay load similar to that carried by Insat-2E. The lift off mass of the satellite is 950 kg and the satellite would be raised to the final geo-synchronous orbit of 36,000 km.
|
