The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made announcement that it will roll out its innovative remote sensing satellite on April 28.

The satellite named Cartosat-2A, is equipped with panchromatic camera, which is capable of providing scene-specific spot imageries for cartographic and other applications with high-resolution cameras and advanced scientific instruments.

The all-weather reconnaissance satellite, Cartosat-2A will be launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Sriharikota space station, and will be used for urban as well as rural development planning and for intelligence gathering.

Mr.G. Madhavan, chairman of ISRO said, “We have rescheduled the launch of Cartosat-2A to this month-end. The tentative launch date is April 28. The exact date and time will be finalised in a fortnight after factoring weather and other relevant data.”

Weighing around 680-kg (1,500-pound), the new Cartosat-2A will be placed in a polar orbit at an altitude of 630 km (391 miles). It will also have high agility to steer across the track up to plus or minus 45 degrees.

Along with Cartosat-2A, the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) will also carry a Third World Satellite (TWSAT) and eight nano satellites.

 TWSAT (third world satellite) would be a co-passenger, along with eight nano satellites, which have come from countries, including the Netherlands, Canada and Germany.

According to the sources TWSAT is the first satellite in the micro satellite series envisaged to provide a 100 kg class satellite platform for carrying payloads for earth imaging, space science, atmospheric and ocean studies, and will carry a multi-spectral camera.

The data will be provided free to research organisations, universities and institutions in the developing countries, the sources added.