New Delhi has to sign a commercial space launch agreement (CSLA) with Washington for the restrictions to get eased.

However, ISRO's cooperation with other countries is steadily improving, said Murthi.

The space agency is now gearing up to launch an Algerian satellite Alsat by the year-end with its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

'Owned by the Algerian Space Agency, the satellite is built by a French company with components of US origin,' Murthi said.

That apart, ISRO will also launch Megha Tropiques, an Indo-French joint satellite mission for studying tropical atmosphere and climate issues like monsoon, cyclones and others.

The satellite will have an Italian made atmospheric sounder called ROSA.

Apart from Alsat and Megha Tropiques, ISRO will also launch small satellites from Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore and Canada.

Another major launch mission of the agency for the current year is the launch of GSLV-D3 (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle) that will carry communication satellite GSAT-4.

GSLV-D3 will use an indigenous cryogenic engine that will place the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), Murthi said.

After that, GSLV-F06 carrying INSAT-3D will be launched.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)