|
Key Highlights
|
- Launch Date and Location:
- Date: February 15, 2017
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India
- Launch Vehicle:
- Rocket: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C37
- Configuration: PSLV-XL, the most powerful variant of the PSLV
- Mission Objective:
- The primary objective was to launch the Cartosat-2D earth observation satellite.
- The secondary objective was to deploy 103 co-passenger satellites into space, bringing the total to 104 satellites.
|
|
Technical Details
|
- Launch Sequence:
- The PSLV C37’s fourth stage was equipped with multiple satellite dispensers to deploy the payloads in a coordinated manner.
- After the primary satellite, Cartosat-2D, was released into a sun-synchronous polar orbit, the smaller satellites were deployed sequentially.
- Deployment Precision:
- The mission demonstrated ISRO’s precision in deploying multiple satellites into their designated orbits.
- Utilized sophisticated technology to ensure that each satellite was correctly positioned without collision or interference.
|
|
Fact 1: PSLV C37 carried 3 Indian Satellites and 101 foreign satellites
|
- Of the 104 satellites ISRO launched today, three are Indian and 101 are foreign. United States (96), Israel, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the Netherlands are the foreign clients.
|
|
Fact 2: 103 satellites were nanosatellites
|
- PSLV carried a 714-kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller “nanosatellites” weighing 664 kilograms.
|
|
Fact 3: A Major Indian Satellite is CARTOSAT-2
|
- An Indian cartographic satellite, believed capable of taking high-resolution images is also on board. It is expected to monitor regional arch-rivals in Pakistan and China. Other Indian satellites are INS-1A and INS-1B.
|
|
Fact 4: Sriharikota
|
- The launch took place from the spaceport of Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This is about 125 km from Chennai.
|
|
Fact 5: 18 minutes
|
- In about 18 minutes all the satellites were released into space.
|
|
Fact 6: Growing Business
|
- India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. This world record-creating PSLV launch is a sign that India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. Putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is a growing business sector. That’s because companies, as well as countries, are seeking greater and more high-tech communications.
|
|
ISRO: Plans for the Future
|
|
Fact 7
|
- India had already successfully demonstrated her scientific capabilities with 2 major space missions – Chandrayan mission (to the moon) and Mangalyan mission (to Mars).
|
|
Fact 8
|
- The second mission to Mars is tentatively slated for in 2021-2022. As per existing plans, it may well involve putting a robot on the surface of the Red Planet.
|
|
Fact 9
|
- ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.
|
|
Fact 10
|
- In addition to this, ISRO is also working on a Reusable Launch Vehicle, widely known as India’s space shuttle.
|