Chennai: The preparations are in the final stages at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota, for the launch of Resourcesat-1 (IRS-P6). The satellite will be launched by the eighth flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C5).

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials, the launch is tentatively scheduled on 17 October 2003 between 10:22 am and 10:32 am subject to weather clearance.

Once commissioned, the 1,360-kg Resourcesat-1, which is India's most sophisticated remote sensing satellite built so far, will provide continuity to the services of IRS-1C and IRS-1D that have far outlived their design mission lives besides enhancing the service capabilities by providing imagery with better spatial resolution and additional spectral bands.

The satellite will thus give further fillip for the application of remote sensing, especially in the areas of agriculture, disaster management, and land and water resources.