The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched PSLV-C38 rocket at 9.20 from the Sriharikota district of Tamilnadu on Friday.
The PSLV-C38 mission aims at putting 31 satellites into orbit, including the 712 kg satellite Cartosat-2. Besides, the mission carries a constellation of 30 co-passenger satellites. The mission also carries one satellite developed by a group of students from Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari district.
Co-passenger satellites from India and 14 other countries
The constellation which actually weighs about 243 kg has been lifted into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
The co-passenger satellites comprised of 29 Nanosatellites from 14countries besides India. 14 countries which contributed its nanosatellites are as follows:
Austria, Chile, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, and the United States of America.
The launch of PSLV
The country started the countdown of this satellite 28 hours before the actual launch. The countdown began on Thursday at 5.29 am and the final launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) took off with the core satellite for earth observation. The vehicle was in its 40th flight.
PSLV-C38 was launched from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. All the satellites on the PSLV C-38 weigh up to 955 kg.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate ISRO on the commendable feat.
Congratulations to ISRO on its 40th successful Polar satellite launch carrying 31 satellites from 15 countries. You make us proud!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2017
Antrix Corporation – ISRO’s commercial arm
ISRO said that 29 Nanosatellites have been launched as part of commercial framework laid out between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix). Antrix is ISRO’s commercial arm which connects international customers.
Objectives of PSLV Launch
The new launch is aimed at providing high-resolution scene-specific spot imagery. The newly launched remote sensing satellite, Cartosat-2 shares a similar configuration as other satellites launched previously by the space research agency.
The new launch is aimed at providing high-resolution scene-specific spot imagery. The newly launched remote sensing satellite, Cartosat-2 shares a similar configuration as other satellites launched previously by the space research agency.
ISRO Chairman A.S Kiran Kumar was elated with the new launch. He appreciated and lauded the efforts of the team at the launch event.
