Tirupati, Nov 14 :  The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief K. Radhakrishnan said here on Saturday that India is developing the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) to enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market.

Addressing the Andhra Pradesh Science Congress here, Radhakrishnan said: “We are working on a new launch vehicle development GSLV Mark III which is expected to be flying in the coming years. And a major milestone in the development is going to be the static testing of the systems.”

“We could realize the world’’s third largest propellant boosters H200 with 200 tonnes of propellants mixed in India, in a plant which is mostly automatic, which is situated in Shreeharikota with our own technology, with the ingredients coming from the Indian Industry based on our technology,” he added.

GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weighs 4500 to 5000 kilograms.

The vehicle envisages multi-mission launch capability for GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate circular orbits.

In his address Radhakrishnan also noted that ISRO is giving stress for the development of miniature satellite system involving Indian Universities.

“Today our universities are enabled to make satellites of 1kilogram and 6 kilograms class. This is one of our major thrust for the future,” he said.

In August, students of the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Kanpur had developed a Nano satellite, ”Jugnu” under the guidance of ISRO.

The satellite weighs less than three kilograms and consists of advanced functionalities that other normal satellites have. The payload of satellite would include a camera, designed with complete indigenous technologies, in the purpose of near remote sensing.

There would be a GPS receiver and finally the satellite will transmit blinking signal while making the rounds over the earth. The Nano satellite is scheduled to be launched by the ISRO in December. (ANI)

Former President, Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf appears on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria program GPS. He gives candid responses to Zakaria’s probing questions with frankness and outspokenness including calling a spade a spade with respect to Pak-Afghan relations, Pak-US friendship over the years, shortcomings of the War on Terror being fought in Afghanistan, and how Taliban now control more than 50 percent of Afghanistan thereby becoming a problem for Pakistan rather than the other way as being perceived by many.

Plus, Musharraf explains what happened to America’s $10 billion in aid to Pakistan over the last 10 years, and whether or not he would consider running again for office. A Must Watch!

NEW YORK: Former president Pervez Musharraf has expressed the confidence that Pakistan army will prevail over the Taliban who have challenged the writ of the government, but said that ‘winning hearts and minds’ of people may be difficult.

Talking to some Pakistani reporters at a hotel here on Friday, Gen (retd) Musharraf rejected a suggestion that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had come to the fore during his watch.

‘This was the consequence of the Feb 18 election and the Taliban got strong then as they got a free hand under the new ANP government,’ he said. ‘In my time they were hiding,’ he claimed. However, he added, ‘I am convinced that our army will drive the enemies of the state away but we have to win the hearts and minds also.’

As to how long could such an operation last, he said it was difficult to predict. Asked about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets, Musharraf said they were ‘absolutely secure’, adding that people of Pakistan would never allow anyone to capture them.

When a reporter suggested that when he was president he did everything according to American wishes, Musharraf said: ‘I never bowed before anybody and did everything in Pakistan’s best interest.’

In reply to a charge that he was involved in the murder of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and arrest of JSQM (Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz) leader Dr Safdar Saraki, he said: ‘I will not dignify your question with an answer.’

In an interview with CNN, the former president said he would run for office once the two-year restriction expired. According to him, President Zardari with an approval rating of 19 per cent did not have the support to fight Taliban.

‘If Pakistan is in trouble and if any Pakistani, myself included – if you can see that we can do something for it – well … my life is for Pakistan,’ he told Fareed Zakaria on GPS.

Musharraf said he wished the government well. ‘But one is concerned about Pakistan, certainly,’ he said. ‘One does get concerned about where we are headed and what are we doing.’