ISRO Gets Ready for Historic 100th Mission

Radhakrishnan, also chairman of Space Commission and secretary in the department of space, said GSAT-10 would carry 30 transponders, including 12 in Ku band, along with a GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) payload. GSAT-10 is a Rs 750 crore mission, including launch services cost.

Isro officials said GSAT-10, which will have a minimum operational life of 15 years, is envisaged to augment the growing need for transponders and provide communication services and augment the existing ones.

"The next launch (after GSAT-10) is going to be another PSLV launch", Radhakrishnan said. "It (SARAL, an Indo-French satellite) is a joint activity in the sense payload is built by France (CNES), satellite is by Isro and launch is by Isro".

SARAL will provide data products to operational and research user communities, in support of marine meteorology and sea state forecasting; operational oceanography; seasonal forecasting; climate monitoring; ocean, earth system and climate research, Isro officials said.