Amateur Radio Satellite to be launched by ISRO in April 09

A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV –C12) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is getting ready to put in orbit Israeli satellite RISAT in the first week of April along with a mini-
satellite called Anusat built by Anna University, Chennai. Anusat, an amateur communication satellite weighing 38 kg was integrated at the Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai of Anna University. It is undergoing tests at the ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore. It will reach Sriharikota soon. Its integration helped the students to get hands on experience in understanding the complexities in building a satellite The PSLV that will put RISAT and Anusat in orbit in April from Sriharikota's second launch pad is a core-alone version without the six strap-on booster motors that form part of the standard PSLV .The core-alone vehicle weighs 230 tonnes while a normal PSLV weighs 295 tonnes. The PSLV is 44 metres tall.
(The Hindu 19 March 2009)

(National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad 500082, INDIA )