BANGALORE: India has built an advanced remote sensing satellite with military and other applications and its launch is expected in the next few weeks onboard a home-grown rocket, with an Israeli spacecraft as its likely co-passenger.

"Cartosat-2A is ready for launch," an ISRO official said. Meanwhile, Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization, G Madhavan Nair, indicated that if it's technically feasible, Cartosat-2A and Israel's Polaris would be launched together onboard India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

"There are some technical issues that have to be resolved. We are in discussion with them (Israeli space agency)....(we will go for simultaneous launch) if its technically feasible.

There are some questions to be discussed," Nair told PTI here. "We have not yet finalized the date for the launch. We want to do it before the end of the year. That's our target".

ISRO officials brushed aside suggestions in some quarters that Cartosat-2A is India's first dedicated military satellite but gave enough indications that it could be used for military purposes.

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