PSLV Launched Sucessfully | Countdown for Indian rocket launch progressing smoothly

The countdown for Monday's launch of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket carrying five satellites, including one for cartography, is progressing without a hitch, an official said. The countdown started on Saturday morning for the launch of the 44-metre tall, 230-tonne PSLV. "The launch countdown has been progressing smoothly and we are getting ready for the Monday launch," S. Satish, a director at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), told IANS. The rocket will blast off into space from Sriharikota, around 80 km from here, carrying the 694 kg Cartosat 2B and an Algerian satellite Alsat (116 kg). It will also carry three very small satellites - NLS 6.1 and NLS 6.2 from Canada and Switzerland, and StudSat - developed by students of engineering colleges in Bangalore and Hyderabad. ISRO has been carrying out multiple launches for several years. In 2008, it set a world record by launching 10 satellites at one go. By 9.30 p.m Sunday filling of liquid fuel will be completed. By midnight, the rocket's electronic systems will be switched on to take measurements, ISRO officials told IANS. According to ISRO officials, the rocket's flight path will be continuously fine-tuned by measuring the wind speed at regular intervals before the blast off. The wind speed measured half-an-hour before the blast off will be used to finalise the rocket's flight path. According to the officials, the wind velocity will be around 180 km per hour between 11-15 km above the earth. At this wind speed, the rocket can easily glide through.