PSLV countdown begins at SHAR

Chennai, Apr 21 (UNI) The countdown for Monday's first full-fledged commercial launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C8), which will deploy an Italian satellite, Agile, in circular orbit and an Advanced Avionics Module (AAM), began at Sriharikota this evening.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair said tonight the countdown was progressing smoothly. The final phase of operations and various tests have been carried out and the results were good.

He said the final T-24 hour countdown will begin at 1530 hrs at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at SHAR Range Sriharikota, about 125 km from here.

The PSLV-C8 will lift off from the India's spaceport of Sriharikota at 1530 hrs on April 23.

The launch window will be kept open from 1530 hrs to 1730 hrs, Mr Nair said and exuded confidence of a successful launch.

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