India's mission to probe Sun before 2020

The launch of IRNSS 1-B was likely in April first week, while the experimental launch of GSLV Mark III was expected in the last week of May or in the first week of June, he said.

On the capacity of launching vehicles, he said ISRO aimed at increasing the capacity of GSLV by four tonnes between 2014 and 2017 and further enhancing to six to 10 tonne before 2020.

Detailing on the utility of ISRO satellites in tackling natural disasters, he said three satellites, including Kalpana and INSAT - 3D were very helpful during the recent cyclone 'Phailin', sending over 400 images during crucial four days.

"With their inputs, we were able to predict the velocity, intensity and the date of landfall almost accurately," he said adding the loss of life was only six or seven due to the cyclone.

Updating on ISRO's ambitious inter-planetary mission to the Mars, he said the Mars Orbiter Mission, launched on November 5 last year, had travelled over one third of the total distance of 680 million km.