'ISRO plans more launch; INSAT-4CR in good health'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the successful launch of the GSLV-F04 from Sriharikota, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director B N Suresh said ISRO's immediate plan was the launch of two more PSLV flights this year and a GSLV launch early next year.

Speaking to reporters at the airport here today after arriving from Sriharikota, he said the communication satellite INSAT-4CR put in its pre-determined orbit by GSLV, was in 'good health'.

"Further operations of the satellite are being done from ISRO's centre at Hassan. Our people have already gone there," he said.

The success of this launch, particularly after the failure of the previous GSLV flight four months back, demonstrated the robustness of the vehicle and resilience of ISRO as a team, "I think we have done a good job within a short span of time," he said.

Suresh said that the Indian Space Research Institute would be inaugurated at the VSSC campus on September 14 by ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair. "We have set up a alternative campus and are going to run the Institute through it", he said.

Admissions to the Institute had already been completed and students would join by September 12 and 13, he added.