The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Thursday announced that the launch of its earth observation satellite, Cartosat 3, and 13 US nanosatellites has been rescheduled to November 27. The PSLV C47 was earlier scheduled to the launch the satellites on November 25.
While the space agency did not provide a reason for the delay, an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The missions are complex and we need to do everything to ensure that the mission is successful. And, sometimes this means changing the dates.”
Cartosat 3 is an earth observation satellite with high resolution imaging capability that will address the increasing demands of satellite data for urban planning, rural infrastructure development, coastal land use and land cover. The PSLV C47 will also carry 13 nanosatellites commercially under a deal negotiated by the newly-created New Space India Limited.
On Thursday, minister of state for department of space Jitendra Singh said India’s second mission to the moon was the biggest mission planned for the year, and even though the soft-landing was not successful, the mission was not a failure.