Isro launches 104 satellites in a single mission to create world record
Isro’s
PSLV-C37 in a single payload, included the Cartosat-2 series and 103
co-passenger satellites, together weighing over 650kg
In its thirty ninth flight
(PSLV-C37), ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 714
kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites today
morning (February 15, 2017) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
This is the thirty eighth consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The total
weight of all the 104 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C37 was 1378 kg.
PSLV-C37 lifted off at 0928 hrs
(9:28 am) IST, as planned, from the First Launch Pad. After a flight of 16 minutes 48 seconds, the satellites
achieved a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 506 km inclined at an angle of 97.46
degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit) and in the succeeding 12
minutes, all the 104 satellites successfully separated
from the PSLV fourth stage in a predetermined sequence beginning with
Cartosat-2 series satellite, followed by INS-1 and INS-2. The total number of
Indian satellites launched by PSLV now stands at 46.
After separation, the two solar
arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed automatically and ISRO's
Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore took over the
control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to
its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide
remote sensing services using its panchromatic (black and white) and
multispectral (colour) cameras.
The imagery from the Cartosat-2
series satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural
applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road
network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps, change
detection to bring out geographical and manmade features and various other Land
Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS)
applications. The data sets could be used for urban planning of 500 cities
under the Amrut Planning Scheme. The government initiative of 100 smart city
programme in which these data sets could be used for master plan preparation
and detailed geospatial data preparation for rural roads and infrastructure
development.
Of the 103 co-passenger
satellites carried by PSLV-C37, two – ISRO Nano Satellite-1 (INS-1) weighing
8.4 kg and INS-2 weighing 9.7 kg – are technology demonstration satellites from
India.
The remaining 101 co-passenger
satellites carried were international customer satellites from USA (96), The
Netherlands (1), Switzerland (1), Israel (1), Kazakhstan (1) and UAE (1).
This mission involved many
technical challenges like realising the launch of a large number of satellites
during a single mission within the time frame sought by the customers from
abroad. Besides, ensuring adequate separation between all the 104 satellites
during their orbital injection as well as during their subsequent orbital life
was yet another challenge associated with this complex mission.
With today’s successful launch,
the total number of customer satellites from abroad launched by India’s
workhorse launch vehicle PSLV has reached 180.
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