CHENNAI: As an Indian rocket is getting ready to put five British satellites into orbit on July 10, officials at the Sriharikota space port are also working on an Indian satellite launch, an official said. India will launch a communications satellite GSAT6 sometime after July 10.

"Work is progressing smoothly for the July 10 night rocket launch. The PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle) rocket is ready. We are carrying out the launch rehearsal now. We will be rehearsing the activities that are to be done on the launch day," a senior official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS .

According to him, the four stage/engine PSLV rocket in XL variant is slated to blast off at 9.58 p.m. on July 10 and the 62.5-hour countdown is expected to start at 7.28 a.m. on July 8.

The official said the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) is slated to meet on July 7 and take a decision on the PSLV rocket launch.

Of the five British satellites, together weighing around 1,440 kg, three are identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellites weighing 447 kg. These will be put into a 647-km sun-synchronous orbit

Of the other two satellites, CBNT-1 weighs 91 kg and also is an optical earth observation technology demonstration microsatellite, while the De-OrbitSail weighs 7 kg. This is an experimental nano satellite for demonstration of large thin membrane sail and drag deorbiting.

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