Chandigarh: India would soon launch indigenously built specialised scientific research satellite 'Astrostat' to learn more about deep space, chairman space commission and secretary, Department of Space K Kasturirangan has said.

The satellite has detectors to monitor different types of radio frequencies, X-rays and electromagnetic radiations, which would give insight into deeper space and "significantly increase our understanding of space systems", Kasturirangan said.

The launch is likely to take place in 2005-06, he said.

Kasturirangan said there were plans to establish within five to eight years a unique space observatory which would have the facility to study different objects – including neutron stars and black holes – at different wavelengths simultaneously.

Asked how significant would these developments be, he said, "We call it front- ranking science".

Kasturirangan said the observatory project would involve collaboration between various agencies across the country including Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, ISRO, Raman Research Institute, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, all from Bangalore.

PTI