In demand: ISRO's PSLV gets new launch orders from around the world

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle developed and operated by ISRO has landed itself launch orders from across the world. The Hindu reports that it will launch France’s 712-kg SPOT-7 earth observation satellite and separately, at least half-a- dozen small foreign spacecraft for a fee this year and the next. [caption id=“attachment_836959” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. AFP[/caption] With its dependable and ability to precisely place spacecraft in their slots, the PSLV has grabbed the attention of satellite makers. In the upcoming crop of contracts, SPOT-7 and the 950-kg EnMAP are primary satellites, which means the PSLV is graduating from tucking small commercial ‘piggybacks’ in spare nooks left over by a main Indian passenger spacecraft, The Hindu reported. In February this year India launched the Indo-French Saral satellite and six other small foreign satellites using the PSLV rocket. The Hindu reported that the contracted ones would be fitted into the launch schedule of ISRO’s own remote sensing satellites which need the PSLV. One of them, Indonesia’s LAPAN-A2 observation satellite, is due to go with the country’s astronomy project, Astrosat. Eight PSLV launches are planned during 2013-14 and 2014-15. India started putting into space third-party satellites for a fee in 1999 on its PSLV-C2 rocket. Since then India has been successful in launching medium-weight satellites for overseas agencies. Initially ISRO started carrying third-party satellites atop PSLV rockets as co-passengers of its own remote sensing/earth observation satellites. Read full report here.