ISRO to build new class of powerful communication satellites

BANGALORE: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to build a new class of powerful communication satellites that packs more capacity and new technologies, its Chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.

This kind of spacecraft would handle larger amount of power and accommodate more number of transponders in the same satellite, he told PTI adding ISRO planned to incorporate new technologies in them and get into higher bands.

"Today, we are at Ku band. We want to get into Ka band and even higher band. This is one of the priorities (in the coming five-year plan (which starts in April next year)", Radhakrishnan, who is also Chairman of Space Commission and Secretary in the Department of Space, said.

"In remote sensing (satellite field), we have to get into environmental studies and climate change studies. This is one requirement, new requirement (in the next five-year plan)," he said.

He said the Bangalore-headquartered ISRO would launch its first navigation satellite next year, under its Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) programme which would be followed by six more such spacecraft. "So, these will have live coverage over Indian region," Radhakrishnan said.

ISRO's GSLV today can carry satellites weighing 2.2 tons into space. Radhakrishnan said GSLV-Mk III (which can lift four tonne spacecraft) is going to be one of the "major targets" in the coming five-year plan.