Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be launching nine nano/micro satellites for United States during 2015-16 time-frame. This will be the first time that ISRO will launch US satellites. Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO, has signed the agreement. Generally, nano satellites are ones that weigh between 1-10 kg while micro satellites weigh from 10-100 kg. ISRO is planning to launch the Astrosat satellite in September. It will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. Some of the micro/nano satellites of the US may also go in that rocket as piggyback luggage.
ISRO has earned a profit of Rs 896 crore over the last five years through its commercial arm Antrix by virtue of various activities like launching of foreign satellites. India has earned about 100 million USD launching 45 foreign satellites till date and revenue from its commercial space missions is poised to grow with another 28 foreign satellites planned to be put into orbit between 2015 and 2017.
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