May 6, 2005	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1426

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SRIHARIKOTA(India), May 5: An Indian space rocket blasted off on Thursday in the country’s first bid to carry two satellites in a single launch, part of its ambitious space programme that aims to send a probe to the moon. The launch of the two satellites from the Satish Dhawan space port near Madras on India’s southeast coast will help mapmakers and amateur radio operators, space officials said.

The 44-metre Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off carrying a remote sensing satellite whose precise imaging is aimed at putting every Indian household on the map and one for home radio operators.

Space officials called it a “textbook launch.” President Abdul Kalam, a scientist dubbed India’s “missile man” for his contribution to India’s satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project and nuclear weapons programme, watched the launch.

The biggest satellite, the 1.5-ton CARTOSAT-1 carried by the rocket, is intended to supply high-resolution pictures for more precise maps that will be valuable in planning towns, laying new roads, digging canals, disaster assessment and water resources management.

The smaller 42.5-kilogram HAMSAT communications satellite will provide ultra-high and very-high radio frequencies to broaden bandwidth which Indian home operators had been seeking for years.—AFP