Indian space rocket blasts off with two satellites

SRIHARIKOTA, India (AFX) - An Indian space rocket blasted off today in the country's first bid to carry two satellites in a single launch, part of its ambitious space program that aims to send a probe to the moon, Agence France-Presse reported.

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-meter 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.

'The launch took at place exactly on schedule,' said S Krishnamurthy, a spokesman for the state-run Indian Space Research Organization.

Space officials called it a 'textbook launch.'

President Abdul Kalam, a scientist dubbed India's 'missile man' for his contribution to India's satellite programs, guided and ballistic missiles project and nuclear weapons program, 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 buttessment 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 have been seeking for years.

India aims to send a probe to the moon in 2007-08. But its space program, run by the Bangalore-based ISRO, has mainly been aimed at harnessing high technology for its population of over one bln, particularly in rural areas.