India launches satellite to study monsoons

India launched an ultra-modern satellite "Megha-Tropiques" to study the patterns and dynamics of monsoons, on Wednesday from the Sriharikota launching port in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, reported the Press Trust of India (PTI).
With the successful launch of the satellite, India became the second nation in the world, after Japan, to launch such a space mission.
The Indian rocket 'PSLV-C18', carrying the main Indo-French tropical weather satellite, and three other smaller satellites, blasted off from the first launch pad at the space port. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists at the rocket's mission control room are watching the PSLV-C18's progress.
The 1,000 kg 'Megha-Tropiques' satellite, made in collaboration between India and France, is designed to study the water-cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics.
The satellite will provide scientific data on contribution of the water-cycle to the tropical atmosphere with information on condensed water in clouds, water-vapour in the atmosphere, precipitation and evaporation, said the report.
With its circular orbit inclined 20-degree to the Equator, the satellite will enable climate research and also aid scientists seeking to refine weather prediction models.
The three smaller satellites carried by the PSLV-C18 are the 10.9-kg 'SRMSAT', the three-kg remote sensing satellite 'Jugnu', and the 28.7-kg 'VesselSat'. All these three satellites would help in locating ships on high seas, added the report.
Source: BNA