PSLV establishes brand value

Sriharikota, Apr 28 (UNI) With the successful launch of 16 satellites for international customers, including eight in one mission today, PSLV, the versatile and workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO, has established a brand value.

Talking to reporters after the successful launch of ten-in- one mission for ISRO by PSLV-C9, the 13th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, Mr K R Sridharamurthy, Managing Director of Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Department of Space, said PSLV had launched the satellites of all the international customers successfully and has created a brand value.

''We will use this brand value to have more launches, either along with Indian satellites or dedicated commercial launches depending upon the situation,'' he added.

''PSLV has proved to the world that it can handle any type of satellite, big or small. It has also proved that it can launch the satellite at the precise orbit specified by the customers and the launch delivery has been right on dot,'' Mr Sridharamurthy, flanked by ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair, said.

Promising launches of more foreign satellites, he said talks were on with international customers for as many launches as possible either with Indian satellites or in dedicated mission.

The roaring success of the PSLV, which had completed its 12th successive launch today by placing a record ten satellites, including eight from abroad, in a single mission, has created confidence among the foreign customers and Antrix could aspire for a big share in the international commercial market.

''We are planning two more foreign satellite launch next year...we are talking to the customers. This trend is likely to continue,'' Mr Sridharamurthy said and added that ''more and more customers were approaching ISRO for placing their satellites into orbit as the costs charged by us was very low.'' Mr Nair said the annual budget of the Department of Space was Rs 4,000 crore and Antrix had earned a revenue of Rs 600 crore during 2007-08.

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