The final countdown for the launch of Oceansat-2 satellite has begun.

The launch of satellite will help identify potential fishing areas and in costal area studies from Sriharikota.

While talking to press, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) sources said that the launch will take place at 1153 hrs on September 23. They added that the 970 kg satellite would be launched from ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The satellite will also carry six European nano spacecrafts, which provided European look to the mission.

On behalf of Russian Government, Army General Nikolai Abroskin, director of the Federal Service for the Production of Special Construction Work, has announced that Russia will start working on the establishment of the new space center in Vostochny, a region in the far east of the country, in 2011.

Talking to reporters, the General said, “In all, seven launch pads are to be built at the space center -general Abroskin explained- including two for manned flights and two for space freighters.”

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday, has said that India is likely to imitate China for their approach to deal with air and water pollution.

China has used scientific technology and management controls to check the emission of waste gases and liquids in the environment.

Ramesh also told that China has agreed to propose India as a member of the league, which is researching on issues of climate control. This league has China, Japan and Korea as members.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that it had conducted a joint experiment with NASA to locate water-ice on Moon.

India's first lunarcraft Chandrayaan-1 and US’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have teamed up to trace presence of ice or water near the Moon’s North Pole.
 
ISRO has stated that the unique “Bi-Static” experiment had been performed collectively when Chandrayaan and Orbiter came closer while orbiting over the Lunar North Pole where the permanently shadowed Erlanger crater was situated.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been allowed by the US government to launch Algerian satellites with American components.

The clearance has been followed by a Technical Safeguards Agreement (TSA) between two countries, which cover launching of satellites having US components on Indian launch vehicles.

The TSA was signed on July 20 during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to New Delhi.