Indian Space Research Organisation is planning to increase the number of satellite launches every year, a top ISRO official said on Friday. "We are planning to increase the number of rocket launches from the present eight to 12 every year," ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar said at a function in Chennai.

Kumar, who was here to participate in the MIT Alumni Golden Jubilee Celebrations, said the scientists were gearing up for the launch the GSLV-MarkII (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) carrying weather satellite in August.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Director K Sivan said the weather monitoring and forecasting satellite on board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is also planned to be launched later this year. Last month, ISRO had put into orbit 20 satellites, including the earth observation satellite -- Cartosat-2, on board PSLV-C34 in a single launch from the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 135 kms from Chennai.