BANGALORE: If all tests go according to plans, Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ‘Megha- Tropiques’, an Indo-French advanced tropical climate monitoring satellite will be launched on October 12 at 11.00 am from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced on Saturday.Speaking to media about the launch of Megha- Tropiques, Radhakrishnan said, “The final tests are being conducted.The vibration test has been done.The preshipment test was done on Saturday morning.Once all the tests are completed, the satellite will be moved from Bangalore on September 14 and by September 15 morning it is likely to reach Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.” “Megha-Tropiques is an advanced tropical weather and climate monitoring satellites, conceived primarily to investigate tropical regions and would also help in monsoon variability studies.The satellite is similar to the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites,” he said.“The satellite would carry four scientific instruments, including a Microwave Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures (MADRAS) radiometer developed jointly by ISRO and CNES to provide information on rain above the oceans,” he informed.“The satellite will be placed at an inclination of 20 degrees with respect to the equatorial plane.In this orbit, the satellite will be able to collect scientific data covering the tropical regions,” he added.The Indian Space Research Organisation would control the satellite in orbit and also receive, process and distribute the scientific data from the satellite.Apart from the 22 Indian and French scientists, 21 international team of scientists working on global climate related studies from United States, Europe and Japan had shown keen interest in the Megha-Tropiques mission, Radhakrishnan said.Besides, Megha- Tropiques, there are a few other satellites ready for launch.“The PSLV will launch three nano satellites by 2012 - one from Luxembourg, “Jugnu” research satellite designed by IIT-Kanpur and a third one to monitor greenhouse gases from SRM University, Chennai,” the ISRO chairman announced.
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