ISRO plans to launch 58 spacemissions, including sending spacecraft to moon and Mars, anexclusive satellite to keep a round-the-clock watch on thecountry and deploy 500 transponders in the next five years.
The space agency also aims to deploy its own version ofthe Global Positioning System by putting into orbit aconstellation of seven satellites which would form the IndianRegional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS).
According to the 12th Five Year Plan, approved by theCabinet last week, the Indian Space Research Organisationplans to add 400 transponders to the existing 187 to meet thegrowing demand from DTH operators, satellite mobilecommunications and new generation broadband VSAT systems.
An indicative plan outlay of Rs 39,750 crore for the 12thPlan has been made for the Department of Space.
"Overall, 58 missions are planned for realisation during12th Plan period which includes 33 satellite missions and 25launch vehicle missions," the 12th Plan document says.
The space agency is also designing a special 'eye-in-the-sky' -- Geo-Imaging Satellite or GISAT -? to be stationed36,000 km above to maintain round-the-clock vigil and assiststate authorities to tackle natural disasters, floods andforest fires and keep a watch over the country's sensitiveborders.
Missions initiated in the 11th Plan like Chandrayaan-II,Astrosat-1 and Aditya-1 are also expected to set forth ontheir respective destinations into space over the next fiveyears.
As part of Chandrayaan-II, ISRO plans to land a rover onthe lunar surface and put a satellite in an orbit around themoon. The mission is expected to be launched in 2014.
