th January. ISRO used its most trustful rocket launch vehicle PSLV-C40 for this mission. PSLV also carried Cartosat-2 which is India’s 100th Satellite. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It placed a total of 31 satellites from India and 6 other countries in 2 orbits. It is a unique feat for ISRO mission.
ISRO launched 31 satellites along with Cartosat-2 on 12th January.This launch is significant after the PSLV failed to launch IRNSS-1H in August 2017. Its success was crucial for the completion of Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).
Key Points of India’s 100th Satellite Launching:
- There were total 31 satellites placed in orbit. The major payload was India’s earth observation satellite Cartosat 2. It weighed 710 kgs.
- The 30 co-passenger satellites weighed 613 kgs. in total, which included one micro and one nanosatellite of India. There were in total four microsatellites and 26 nanosatellites launched.
The mission was the longest ever taking 2 hours 21 minutes and 62 seconds for carefully maneuvering the satellites into two orbits.
- 28 co-passenger satellites belonged to Canada, Finland, France, South Korea, UK, and the USA. These were launched through a collaboration between ISRO and its commercial arm Antrix Corp. Ltd.
- The mission was the longest ever taking 2 hours 21 minutes and 62 seconds for carefully maneuvering the satellites into two orbits.
Facts of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle:
- It is the prime satellite launch vehicle of ISRO with four stages in order Solid-Liquid-Solid-Liquid.
- Its maiden flight in 1993 failed, but it tested success in 1994. It has failed only thrice till now.
- PSLV has completed much important mission like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission and Indian Space Observatory, Astrosat.
PSLV has a world record to its name for launching a maximum number of satellites in a single flight.
- K Sivan and his team designed and developed PSLV at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela. He conceptualized the vehicle and worked on PSLV since 1982.
- Also known as the ‘rocket man,’ K Sivan is set to take up the mantle from AS Kiran Kumar as the new Chairman of ISRO.