Mumbai: The first operational flight of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), carrying the country's first exclusive educational satellite, will be launched in the middle of next year, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman, Dr K Kasturirangan.

The educational satellite will have five spot beams with KU bands for regional programmes and two national beams with one KU and one C band, Kasturirangan told reporters in Mumbai.

Already, as a precursor programme, institutions like Y B Chavan Open University in Maharashtra and Rajiv Gandhi University in Madhya Pradesh have been connected with INSAT transponders.

"We are expecting more institutions like IEEE, Indian Administrative Associations to take active part in the programme," he said.

ISRO will connect 100 to 200 institutions jointly with the state governments, he said adding, "but subsequently, the state governments will have to make investments to connect at least 1,000 or more institutions in the country".

ISRO is also planning a study of effects of atmospheric aerosols -- both natural and man-made -- and their effects on the climate and weather.

Nearly 70 scientists from 15 institutions would be deliberating on this major project, which began a couple months ago in a big way, Kasturirangan added.

PTI