Isro bags 12 launch orders

Isro has bagged firm orders for launch of 12 foreign satellites aboard its most reliable rocket so far, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Four countries have signed up for launch on the PSLV — Canada, Germany, Luxembourg and Japan — which, between them are supplying 12 satellites to Isro. The launches will begin as soon as a few Indian launches get completed. Each launch on PSLV is expected to cost the countries around $15-$17 million, while it would be $20-$22 million on non-Indian launch vehicles. On average PSLV launches have always been $3 to $5 million less than the average global launch cost. The PSLV will launch remote sensing satellites to the lower earth orbit most of which would be concentrating on natural resources. The foreign launch missions will be undertaken as soon as some Indian missions are completed in the near future. The first among the Indian missions is the PSLV-C17 which will launch the GSAT-12 satellite which will have 12 transponders and weigh 1412 kgs. This is slated for second week of July, 2011.