ISRO’s ever reliable PSLV rocket once again proved its mettle on Saturday when the polar satellite launch vehicle placed an earth observation satellite and eight other co-passenger satellites in multiple orbits, in one of the longest missions.
PSLV-C54 successfully injected the earth observation satellite (Oceansat) and eight other customer satellites into sun-synchronous orbits, ISRO said.
“PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission is accomplished. The remaining satellites have all been injected into their intended orbits,” it said in a tweet. This was PSLV’s 56th flight. The mission is said to be the fifth and last for the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency in 2022.
As the 25.30 hour countdown which began on Friday concluded the rocket lifted off at a pre-fixed time at 11.56 am today.
The 44.4 metre tall PSLV soared majestically into a bright forenoon sky, emanating bright orange fumes from its tail from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 115 kms from Chennai.
After a flight of about 17 minutes, the rocket successfully placed the primary payload Earth Observation Satellite (Oceansat) at an altitude of about 742 km while the passenger satellites were placed sequentially after lowering the altitude of the rocket to about 528 km in the sun-synchronous orbits by the scientists.
Mission Director S R Biju said, “PSLV-C54 mission is successfully accomplished after a 2-hour flight duration.”
The Earth Observation Satellite-6 is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series. This is to provide continuity services of Oceansat-2 spacecraft with enhanced payload specifications as well as application areas.
The mission objective is to ensure data continuity of ocean color and wind vector data to sustain the operational applications.
The customer payloads include ISRO Nano Satellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B) which would have two payloads namely NanoMx and APRS-Digipeater. NanoMx is a multispectral optical imaging payload developed by Space Applications Centre while APRS-Digipeater payload is jointly developed by Department of Information Technology and Telecom, Bhutan and U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.
Another payload in the rocket is the ‘Anand’ satellite developed by Bengaluru headquartered space start-up, Pixxel which is a technology demonstrator to demonstrate the capabilities and commercial applications of miniaturized earth-observation camera for camera observation using a micro-satellite in Low Earth Orbit.
The ‘Thybolt’ (two satellites) is from another space start-up Dhruva Space while Astrocast is a technology demonstrator satellite for the internet of things as the payload from Spaceflight, the United States of America.
India-Bhutan must harness space technology and its applications: EAM
India and Bhutan must harness space technology and its applications towards improving lives of the people, External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.
After the successful launch of the final PSLV mission of 2022, he said the two nations achieved a ‘historic milestone’ with today’s mission.
The PSLV-C54/EOS-06 mission carried nine satellites, including the primary payload an earth observation satellite along with eight other co-passenger satellites.
One of the passenger satellites that rode piggyback on the 44.4 metre tall rocket is India Bhutan Sat — ISRO Nano Satellite 2 for Bhutan (INS-2B). Through a televised address to the ISRO scientists at the Mission Control Centre, Jaishankar said the partnership between India and Bhutan has been taken to a new era in 21st century, through achievements in space and technology.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bhutan in August 2019 had jointly inaugurated the ground earth station of the South Asia Satellite in Thimpu, which was constructed with the support of ISRO”, he said.
India had launched a South Asia Satellite in 2017 as a gift to nations of South Asia region, including Bhutan and recognizing the positive impact SAS would have on the socio-economic development of Bhutan, Modi had offered increased bandwidth with additional transponders, he noted.
“Accordingly, the Indian side extended capacity building to Bhutan..,” he said.
Referring to Saturday’s successful launch, Jaishankar said, “In a landmark initiative, the two sides have now jointly developed a customised small satellite for Bhutan the INS-2B”.
“I understand the primary payload of this satellite which is an imagery, will help Bhutan in natural resources management and the secondary payload which is designed and built by Bhutan will function as a digital repeater from space serving the amateur radio users.”
Jaishankar also informed that the Indian space agency was working with Bhutan to establish a ground station in Thimpu for receiving the data from this satellite INS-2B, which would be commissioned “shortly.”
“With rapid advancement in technology, we must as envisioned by the Majesty the King of Bhutan harness space technology and its applications for improving the lives of the people,” he stressed.
Jaishankar congratulated scientists of India and Bhutan and termed it a “matter of great pride” for both the countries.
“I urge the team to keep up the good work even as we continue our collaboration in space technology,” he said.
