Chennai: ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would be launching two satellites under the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS), as part of the its manned mission.
He said the he first of the two satellites would be up in space next year. Both the satellites would be placed in Geostationary Transfer Orbit, for enabling satellite-to-satellite communication and data transfer.
The IDRSS was intended to improve data relay and maintain continuous communication links with ISRO’s remote sensing and earth observation satellites, besides the heaviest launch vehicles GSLV Mk-III.
ISRO would be using the GSLV Mk-III, which has recently entered the operational phase after successful developmental flights, for the manned space mission that would carry three
astronauts to the space in 2022.
ISRO sources said IDRSS would provide continuous communication link which was very essential in human space mission as the vehicle carrying the astronauts could not be without a link. The IDRSS would also reduce dependence on the ground stations in tracking satellites.