ISRO chief seeks divine blessings before satellite launch

Ahead of the launch of the Indo-French satellite 'SARAL' onboard Isro 'sworkhorse rocket PSLV from Sriharikota, Isrochairman K Radhakrishnan on Sunday offered prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati.

Radhakrishnan offered prayers on Sunday morning for the successful launch of the satellite on Monday, temple sources said. An ardent devotee, Radhakrishnan visits the shrine to seek divine blessings ahead of every satellite launch and makes another trip after its success.

Radhakrishnan was accompanied by his wife Padmini. Since the last two decades, heads of the space agency have made it a practice to visit the over 2000 year-old Tirumala hill temple to seek divine blessings before every satellite launch, the sources said.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C20 is scheduled for blast-off at 5.56pm from the spaceport at Sriharikota, 110 km from Chennai, carrying 'SARAL', aimed at oceanographic studies, and six foreign mini and micro satellites.

- Asian Tribune -