The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the country's elite space research agency, plans to launch 10 satellites next Monday from its space port at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The 10 satellites to be launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle include the country's Cartosat-2A, a 76-kg mini-satellite and eight nano satellites built by universities in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Indonesia. This is a new world record, according to a senior Isro scientist. "A single mission launching 10 satellites in to predetermined orbits is a unique event and we feel literally elated. This is a new world record," the Isro scientist told this newspaper. PSLV, the launch vehicle, rated as Isro's trusted workhorse, looks quite lean and trim because it is going to be a core-alone vehicle with no strap-on boosters. Prof N. Vedachalam, Isro emeritus professor, says there is nothing surprising in India launching 10 satellites in a single mission. "The PSLV is capable of carrying a payload of 1,500 kg into the polar orbit. The Cartosat-2A weighs around 700 kg and the mini-satellite is hardly 76 kg. The nano satellites weigh approximately 6 kg each. The total payload for the Monday launch is much below the total capability of the PSLV," said Prof. Vedachalam. The mission, titled PSLV-C9, will put the Cartosat into sun orbit, which will be followed by the mini-satellite. "The mission will be completed once the 10th satellite is separated from the main vehicle, which is expected after 20 minutes from the launch," said the scientist. Dr V. Jayaram, director, Earth Observation System, Isro, said Cartosat-2A would play a major role in rural and urban infrastructure development work. "It is capable of largescale mapping of rural and urban India with 1-meter resolution. The uniqueness of Cartosat-2A will be its sunsynchronous orbit. This means that the satellite will pass through a particular area at the same local time every day, and hence the sun illumination condition for the photography will remain constant," said Dr Jayaram. Dr Jayaram said the photographic output from Cartosat2A would be used in resource management, assessment of post-disaster damage and infrastructure development. It can play a major role in deriving geographical information systems too. The Cartosat-2A has an ultra-modern camera of 5.6-meter focal length. Prof. Vedachalam said the launch of nano satellites would be a thrilling experience. "They were all developed by students under the guidance of teachers. It should be an eyeopener to our students and universities," he said.