Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are gearing up for the launch of geostationary weather satellite INSAT—3DR sometime by the end of next month, a top official of the agency said today.

“The GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mark II will carry the geostationary weather satellite INSAT—3DR. We are looking to launch it by end of next month,” ISRO Satellite Centre Director Mayilsami Annadurai told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

The space agency had successfully launched INSAT—3D, a satellite aided search and rescue satellite, from French Guiana in 2013.

ISRO made its last successful launch of 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat—2 series, in a single mission on board ISRO’s workhorse PSLV-C34 from the spaceport of Sriharikota last month.

ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar had recently said that the space agency was planning to increase the number of rocket launches from the present eight to 12 every year.

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