G. Madhavan Nair - The Man Behind the Success

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched ten satellites including country's latest remote sensing satellite and eight nano satellites from abroad on Today.

The satellites lifted off from Sriharikota carried by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -PSLV-C9.

The cluster of satellites included the Indian Mini Satellite (IMPS-1) also.

Latest remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT-2A, weighing about 690 kgs, carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic camera (PAN) which is capable of taking black-and-white pictures in visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

It would be used for mapping purposes and management of natural resources.

The Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) developed by ISRO, weighing 83 kgs, also incorporates many technologies.

India will be in a position to carry out a manned space mission within seven years from now, said a top official of the Indian space agency in Sriharikota on Monday.

Addressing the media after the successful launch of 10 satellites in one go, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G Madhavan Nair said: "The government has given us pre-project funding of Rs 950 million (for the manned mission) and we have initiated necessary activities."

Asked about the need for a manned mission when tests could be conducted remotely, he said: "Today the US, Russia and China have a capability to have a manned mission. We cannot be left behind in the space race. Further, man's presence is absolutely necessary in a spacecraft for conducting some experiments."

The manned mission will be in ISRO's second and more powerful rocket geo synchronous launch vehicle (GSLV)