Bengaluru, May 28

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said today that it would launch a record 22 satellites in a mission next month.

“After the current reusable launch vehicle, we have to think about the next experiment. Other than that, next month we will be launching 22 satellites. A cartographic series satellite will be also launched,” ISRO chief Kiran Kumar said. Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he said of the 22 satellites, three were Indian and the rest commercial. “The launch is scheduled for the end of June,” he said.

Earlier, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K Sivan had said ISRO’s workhorse Polar rocket PSLV C34 would be used for the launch, which would have satellites from the US, Canada, Indonesia and Germany as co-passengers.

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008. “Immediately after the satellites, a scatterometer will be launched. After that, INSAT 3DR. It is to provide vertical temperature and humidity profile from geostationary satellite.” Kumar said. — PTI