Countdown begins for PSLV-C18 launch

NELLORE: Countdown for the launch of PSLV-C18, which will carry four satellites into orbit, from the SHAR Centre on the Sriharikota island, near here, began on Monday.The launch is scheduled at 11 am on October 12.The 46.6-metre-long satellite launch vehicle will be carrying four satellites, which include Megha-Tropiques satellite weighing 1000 kg, jointly designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and French Space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales).The complex satellite is built to monitor the weather patterns and climate in tropical regions of the world.It will be put into an orbit at an altitude of 867 km.The total expenditure of the satellite is said to be approximately `160 crore.The other three satellites include VesselSat from Luxembourg which weighs 300 kg and is meant for locating ships; 10-kg SRMSAT from SRM University in Chennai, which is meant for studying global warming; and a 3-kg JUGNU satellite, developed by students of the IIT-Kanpur.It intends to take images of the earth and study its natural resources.“PSLV-18C will be an important milestone in the annals of Indian space programme and prove once again India's self-reliance in space research.It will give a great boost to scientists at ISRO,” SHAR director C Dattan said.Nellore district police administration, along with CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), has made elaborate security arrangements.Intensive combing operations are being carried out in the forest areas in and around Sriharikota and the movements of newcomers to the area are being closely monitored.DGP V Dinesh Reddy, who is expected to witness the launch, has visited SHAR recently and reviewed the security arrangements.Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah is also expected to visit SHAR to witness the launch of PSLV C18.District collector B Sreedhar has issued orders prohibiting fishermen from venturing into the Bay of Bengal and Pulicat lake from Tuesday night till Wednesday evening.