ISRO to launch Astrosat (India's "Hubble" telescope) in 2009

A presentation was made by ISRO describing this project :

http://www.astro.phy.ulaval.ca/UVIT2...ions/VKRao.pdf

The spacecraft weigh 1.5 tons (780kg are payloads) launched by a PSLV
to an altitude of 650km in May, 2009.

Science payload includes :
1) Large Area Xenon Proportional Counter
2) UV Imaging Telescope
3) Soft X-Ray Telescope
4) Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager
5) Charged Particle Monitor

and other stuff.

International astronomers will be given a chance to observe targets of
interest in space 1 year after the craft is in orbit on a "competitive
basis" (you have to fight each other in a ring man to man).