ISRO gears up for launch of Megha-Tropiques weather satellite

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) sometime back decided to join forces with its French counterpart, French National Space Centre (CNES). Now, with an Indo-French collaboration firmly in place, Megha-Tropiques - a weather satellite is being readied for launch exactly a month from today, i.e. October 12, 2011. Megha-Tropiques, according to an ISRO report, is essentially an advanced climate and weather satellite. In an official press release by ISRO, which was put out on 23rd March, 2009, the Indo - French collaboration, as well as plans of a scheduled launch of the Megha-Tropiques in 2009-10 were cited.  

Megha-Tropiques is being put forth primarily to study the tropical regions, since it is these regions which primarily receive maximum energy from the Sun, more than they radiate back into the space. According to a report in the Deccan Herald, the weather satellite will be carried on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C 18. An Imaging Radiometer Microwave Analysis and Detect­i­on of Rain and Atmospheric Structures (MADRAS), a six channel Humidity Sounder (SAPHIR), a four channel Sc­a­n­ner for Radiation Budget Measurement (SCARAB) and GPS Radio Occultation System (GPS-ROS) purchased from Italy, will accompany the satellite on its maiden launch.