India's space launch industry is preparing for its second domestic mission for 2020 after the first Nov. 7 that saw 10 satellites placed into orbit.
Final preparations are underway for the launch of a communication satellite designed and developed by the India Space Research Organization (ISRO). The tentative launch date is Dec. 1. The satellite will replace one that was put in orbit in 2011.
The new satellite will become only the second to be placed on a geostationary transfer orbit by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the workhorse of India's space program.
The damage to India's economy from COVID-19 has forced the government of prime minister Narendra Modi to reduce the pace of its commercial launches this year.
Therefore, there will be two commercial launches only this year. A third India satellite was placed into orbit by the European Space Agency.
ISRO conducted six domestic launches in 2019.
India's Nov. 7 launch received heavy coverage on local traditional and online media. The launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the island of Sriharikota was the 51st flight of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The primary payload for the Nov. 7 mission was EOS-1 Earth observation satellite which will collect data and imagery for "applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support," according to ISRO.
These radar-imaging satellites use synthetic aperture radars to provide all-weather, day-and-night images of Earth.
