BANGALORE: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil Monday unveiled a new rocket launch facility and its mission control centre at India's spaceport near Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
After dedicating the facility to the nation, Patil witnessed the simulation of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket launch in the control centre and interacted with the space scientists, including state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan.
"The chairman briefed the president on the Indian space programme and explained the space agency's various activities through a powerpoint presentation," ISRO said in a statement released here.
Patil also visited the first launch pad to witness the assembly activities of PSLV-C19 scheduled for launch early this year.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy and state officials were present on the occasion.