Oceansat-2 set for launch tomorrow from Sriharikota

Chennai, Sep 22 (PTI) Oceansat-2 satellite that would help
identify potential fishing zones and provide inputs for
weather forecasting is poised to be launched into orbit on
board the Polar Launch Satellite Vehicle from the spaceport of
Sriharikota in the east coast, 90 kms from here, Wednesday.
Riding piggyback on the 970 kg Oceansat-2, six other nano
satellites -- four from Germany and one each from Switzerland
and Turkey -- would be ejected into space by Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO)'s workhorse PSLV, which launched
India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on its maiden moon mission.
The final 51-hour countdown for the launch began at 9 am
on Monday and has been "progressing normally", ISRO
spokesperson S Satish told PTI.
"All parameters are normal and efforts are on for a smooth
launch," he said, adding the weather was absolutely fine for
the launch.

The launch window for the lift off from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh is fixed
between 11.51 am and 12.06 pm.

Oceansat-2, India's 16th remote sensing satellite, is
intended for identification of potential fishing zones, sea
state forecasting, coastal zone studies and providing inputs
for weather forecasting and climate studies.

An in-orbit replacement to Oceansat-1, used to study
physical and biological aspects of oceanography, which has
completed 10 years of its space journey, Oceansat-2 would have
a mission life of five years. (MORE) PTI