Chennai, Saturday 10 July 2010: The over 50-hour count down for the 17th flight launch of ISRO’S Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C 15 from Sriharikota spaceport began today.

The countdown for the launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre scheduled at 9.22 am on Monday, began at 6.52 am today, ISRO officials said.

“The countdown is progressing well and the launch will be as per schedule,” ISRO spokesperson S Satish told News agency.

He said preparations are in full swing and all parameters for the launch of PSLV-C-15, which would put five satellites, into the orbit, were doing well.

These satellites include remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2B from India, Alsat from Algeria, nano satellites from Canada and Switzerland and a pico (very small) satellite called Studsat built by seven engineering students in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.