India to launch 3-kg space satellite

Kanpur, Jan 22: In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, a top scientist today claimed to be preparing for launching a 3 three kg satellite in space by 2009.

''The design of the satellite would be completed by April. For this, scientists are working round the clock,'' Profesor Dr Nalinaksh Vyas of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, told UNI after attending a high-level meeting of scientists here. Mr Vyas said, ''generally a satellite weighs 2,000-3,000 kgs, but we are preparing a Micro satellite weighing three to five kgs only.''

All components of the satellite would be based on Memz technology. With its help, information related to traffic control, Geographical changing, rivers' movement, Military movement, Tsunami and weather would be fetched easily, he underlined.

With the help of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the satellite was likely to be launched in space by 2009, he added.

Mr Vyas informed that if required, the assistance of scientists from Tata Consultancy Services would also be taken.

He said the cost of the first Micro satellite was around Rs eight crore.

For its approval, a high-level meeting of top Scientists was held this month at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram.

UNI