C Shivakumar By

CHENNAI: In what could be the strongest endorsement for the capability of India in space technology, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will soon launch a satellite for NASA from its launch pad at Sriharikota.

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of the fifth convocation of AMET University here on Monday, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar said that the US would be the 20th country to sign up with India to launch its satellite from Sriharikota.

To a query on why the US was keen on launching its satellite from India, Kumar said that it was due to the cost-effective technology. He said the US would be using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — one of the most efficient space vessel around — that has launched all foreign satellites, especially for Low Earth Orbit satellites.

The space agency has lined up 28 foreign satellites launches from Sriharikota. “We have till now launched 45 foreign satellites; the need of the hour is to increase our capacity,” said the ISRO chairman.

Expanding its capabilities to heavier payloads, the agency is all ready to launch the GSLV-Mark-II by the end of this month. “We will be launching the 2.2 tonne satellite which is undergoing final tests at Sriharikota. We plan to make the next launch in August,” said Kumar.

The launch of GSLV-Mark-II is significant, as this will put to test India’s indigenously developed cryogenic engine CE-7.5 with a capacity of 2.2 tonnes. The GSLV Mark I used cryogenic engine developed by Russians. The success will also pave way for GSLV Mark III, which is likely to be tested by the end of next year. He also said that by March 2016, the ISRO would be launching seven new satellites.

After having tasted success with its Moon and Mars Missions, Kumar said that India was now considering a mission to Venus. “It is in the initial discussion stage. We are considering a mission to Venus,” the scientist said.