Ahmedabad: Having successfully launched several indigenous satellites in the past, the Indian Space Research Organisation is now in the process of launching the first of its new genre of micro-satellites weighing less than 100 kgs.

"Our main aim now is to make the satellite systems as compact as possible," said Dr S K Sharma, the Group Director, Project Planning Group (PPG) at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) here. "We are working towards miniaturising the satellite systems," said the scientist from SAC, an arm of ISRO involved in designing and building communication, remote sensing and meteorological satellite payloads and satellite communication earth station equipment.

"The micro-satellite systems will have satellites weighing less than 100 kilograms", Sharma said while delivering a talk on India's space programme during a function organised last night to commemorate the third anniversary celebrations of American Corner at the Ahmedabad Management Association here.

"The first micro-satellite of ISRO called the PWSat with a payload of five to six kgs and weighing less than 100 kgs is under development and will be launched soon", Sharma said.