MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):
(a) During the year 2008 – 2011, a total of 17 national satellites were launched.
Out of this, 16 were Launched by Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and
Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from the Indian
launching station located at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, as per the details
given below.
Sl. Name of the Satellite Launch Date Launch Vehicle Functions
No
1. CARTOSAT-2A 28-04-2008 PSLV-C9 Cartographic applications
2. Indian Mini 28-04-2008 PSLV-C9 Earth observation Satellite IMS-1
3. CHANDRAYAAN-1 22-10-2008 PSLV-C11 Lunar exploration
4. RISAT-2 20-04-2009 PSLV-C12 Earth observation
5. ANUSAT 20-04-2009 PSLV-C12 Technology demonstrator satellite – of Indian university
6. OCEANSAT-2 23-09-2009 PSLV-C14 Oceanographic applications
7. GSAT-4 15-04-2010 GSLV-D3 Communication purpose
8. CARTOSAT-2B 12-07-2010 PSLV-C15 Cartographic applications
9. STUDSAT 12-07-2010 PSLV-C15 Technology demonstrator satellite–of Indian university
10. GSAT-5P 25-12-2010 GSLV-F06 Communication purpose
11. RESOURCESAT-2 20-04-2011 PSLV-C16 Earth natural resources monitoring
12. YOUTHSAT 20-04-2011 PSLV-C16 Scientific research
13 GSAT-12 15-07-2011 PSLV-C17 Communication purpose
14 MEGHA-TROPIQUES 12-10-2011 PSLV-C18 Weather and climate related
15 SRMSAT 12-10-2011 PSLV-C18 Technology demonstrator satellite–of Indian university
16 JUGNU 12-10-2011 PSLV-C18 Technology demonstrator satellite–of Indian university
Further, GSAT-8 satellite, for communication purposes, was launched on May 20, 2011 from Kourou Launch
Station, French Guiana onboard European Arianne Launch Vehicle.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) Of this, there have been a total of two failed launches viz. launch of GSLV-D3 with GSAT-4
satellite in April 2010 and launch of GSLV-F06 with GSAT-5P satellite in December, 2010.
The failure of GSLV-D3 flight was attributed to the anomalous stoppage of the Fuel Booster Turbo
Pump of the Indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage. The failure of GSLV-F06 flight was due to untimely
and inadvertent snapping of group of connectors located at the bottom portion of the Russian
Cryogenic Stage.
The total financial loss as a result of these two failed launches amounts to` 538 Cr.
(d) India is one among six space faring nations in the world in satellite launching technology.
The other countries being USA, Russia, Europe, China and Japan.
(e) The Indian satellite launching station located at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota has
two launch pads viz. First Launch Pad (FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP) with all necessary infrastructure
to support the launches of presently operational Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geo-Synchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). In addition, the SLP is also capable of launching the new generation
of launch vehicle GSLV-MKIII which is under development. In addition, the launching infrastructure at
Sriharikota has been further strengthened with the addition of new Mission Control Centre, assembly,
integration and test facilities for rocket stages, bulk storage facilities for rocket liquid propellants etc.
