Science and Health

India to launch remote sensing satellite in April

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-07 15:18

NEW DELHI - India will launch a remote sensing satellite, Resourcesat-2, in April, that will provide information on biophysical and geophysical parameters on the Earth 's surface, local media reported Monday.

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The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch the satellite from the Sriharikota Space Center in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, said local daily The Times of India.

Youthsat, in collaboration with Russia, and Xsat, a venture with a Singapore laboratory, are the other two satellites that will also be launched then, the report said.

"Preparations are in last stages. Resourcesat-2 will be launched in April, but the date has not been fixed. It will be equipped with three advanced cameras that will transmit valuable geospatial data regarding biodiversity, forest cover, soil etc," a senior official was quoted as saying.

Resourcesat-2 is the first Indian satellite with space-based Automatic Identification System that can provide guidance to ships in distress.