India to launch Oceansat-2 into space in September: ISRO chief

New Delhi, Aug. 12 (ANI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair has said that India will launch Oceansat-2 into the space by the second-half of September.

The integration of the spacecraft, designed to identify potential fishing zones, assist in sea state forecasting and coastal zone studies and provide inputs for weather forecasting and climate studies, has been completed, he added.

"The thermovat test is over and right now, vibration and other tests are progressing. I hope that in next 15 days we would be able to move it to Sriharikota - the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh from where it would be launched," Nair said.

Oceansat-2 would blast off on board India's home grown workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota on the east coast.

The spacecraft is in-orbit replacement to Oceansat-1, which was launched by ISRO in May 1999 to study physical and biological aspects of oceanography.

It would carry an Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and a Ku-band pencil beam Scatterometer - for the first time, besides a Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmospheric Studies (ROSA). (ANI)