Sriharikota, Dec 17 (UNI) ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan on Thursday

announced that the next mission would be PSLV-C51 that would

unlock India's potential in space sector and initiate a new era of

space reforms.

Addressing the scientists from the Mission Control Centre here

after PSLV-C50 successfuly injected the communication satellite

CMS-01 in the pre-definite sub-Geostationary Orbit, he said 'our

next mission PSLV-C51 will be special for us and special for the

country'.

Recalling the Union Government has recently ushered in the

space reforms and unlocked India's potential in the space

sector, he said the first earth observation satellite 'Anand' by

a startup called Pixxel, will be launched in February-March 2021.

This will be first of its kind in India that will enable private people

to get involved in satellite activities.

Anand will be the first of its kind in the series of satellites, Dr Sivan

said.

Along with Anand, another communication satellite by Spacekidz

India Team SATISAT and UNIVSAT developed by consortium of

three Universities would also be launched.

“The primary payload for PSLV-C51 rocket will be a Brazilian satellite

weighing between 600-700kg,” he said.

Asserting that PSLV-C51 will initiate a new era of space

reforms in India, the ISRO Chairman said 'I am sure the

startups and private people will provide services for the

entire country'.

Stating that ISRO's hands are full at the moment, Dr Sivan

said the activities for third Moon Mission Chandrayaan-3,

the flagship programme Aditya-1 and the manned space

mission Gaganyaan were going on.

Along with this, the much-awaited GSLV, the realisation

of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which would

reduce the turnaround time of launches, and a series of

missions are on hand, Dr Sivan said and exuded confidence

that as usual the team ISRO would rise to the occasion and

make them a success.

UNI GV 1650