Countdown for PSLV-C7 progressing smoothly : ISRO

Chennai, Jan 9: The countdown for the launch of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7), which began yesterday morning, is progressing smoothly.

An ISRO release here today said ''preparations are proceeding smoothly at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR Sriharikota for the tenth launch of PSLV-C7 at 0923 hrs tomorrow.'' The T-52 hour countdown began at 0548 hrs yesterday.

For the first time, PSLV-C7 will launch four satellites-- Indian remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT-2, Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1), Indonesian LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina's PEHUENSAT-1 satellite.

The launch would take place from the First Launch pad.

The launch of SRE-1, a new mission to test re-entry technology, tomorrow will propel India into the elite group of Nations as it would be a forerunner to developing reusable vehicles like space shuttle.

UNI