ISRO chief prays for PSLV C16's successful launch

Even as the 54-hour countdown continues at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) chairman K Radhakrishnan on Tuesday offered special prayers to Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala hills for the successful launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-16.

The PSLV C-16 is scheduled to take off for space with three satellites on board at 10.12 am on April 20.

Prof Radhakrishnan came to Tirumala in wee hours and had the darshan of Lord Venkateswara under VIP darshan scheme.

Talking to media persons later, the ISRO chairman said that he performed special puja for the PSLV C-16’s successful launch that will put three satellites into orbit; India's Resourcesat-2, an Indo-Russian satellite called Youthsat and a micro-satellite named X-Sat from the Nangyang Technological University of Singapore.

The PSLV C-16 will carry three payloads weighing 1,404 kg in total and put them in Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit, 822 km above Earth on its 18th mission.

Resourcesat-2, built by ISRO, is the primary satellite in this mission. It is an advanced remote-sensing satellite, weighing 1,206 kg. Youthsat has been built by India and Russia. The satellite will be used for stellar and atmospheric studies. The 106-kg X-Sat will be used for imaging applications.

Dr Radhakrishna expressed hopes that the country would occupy top slot in the space research in future.

Later the ISRO Chairman proceeded on to Chengallamma temple at Sullurupeta in Nellore district and performed special pujas for the successful launch of PSLV C-16.