According to a Jan. 14 report on ExpressIndia.com, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch a remote sensing satellite, named Cartosat-1, with a 2.5 meter resolution in March or April; an official from the organization was quoted as saying. The report stated the satellite will carry two panchromatic cameras for mapping areas up to 2.5 meters wide with a swath of 30 kilometers. The satellite will be launched by a polar satellite launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Port in Sriharikota, India. The satellite will be placed in sun-synchronous polar orbit at 617 kilometers.

In related news, ISRO will launch a micro-satellite dedicated to the promotion of HAM radio service, HindustanTimes.com reported Jan. 14. The satellite, named Hamsat, will be launched in two to three months and will help replace communications services lost during the Dec. 26 tsunamis.