PSLV succesfully dispatches Cartosat-2 series,30 nano satellites

Sriharikota (AP), Jun 23 The Indian space agency ISRO today effectively launched its workhorse rocket PSLV conveying 'eye in the sky' Cartosat-2 series satellite for the defence forces -- and 30 nano satellites into orbit.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 40th flight (PSLV-C38), lifted off grandly from the principal platform, Satish Dhawan Space Center here at 9.29 am and injected the satellites into orbit around 27 minutes after lift off, in the midst of applause from scientists.

The 44.4 meter tall PSLV-C38 carried the earth observation satellite - Cartosat-2 arrangement satellite as the essential payload alongside 30 co-passenger satellites absolutely weighing 955 kg.

ISRO said following a flight of 16 minutes the Cartosat-2 arrangement satellite accomplished a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 505 km slanted at a point of 97.44 degree to the equator near the intended orbit.

Later the various 30 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined arrangement.

After division of the satellite, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were sent consequently and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru assumed control over the control of the satellite, an ISRO release said.

"In the coming days, the satellite will be conveyed to its final operational design following which it will start to give different remote detecting services", it said.

With the launch of the third spacecraft in the Cartosat-2 series, India's 'eye in the sky' is set to become sharper and wider.

The previous satellite in the series had a resolution of 0.8 meters and the pictures it went up against India's neighborhood had helped New Delhi do surgical strikes on seven dread platforms over the Line of Control a year ago, as indicated by ISRO sources.

The latest remote detecting satellite has a resolution of 0.6 meters, which implies it can spot significantly smaller objects.

"It can recognize objects within that square (0.6 m by 0.6 m)", an ISRO official told on condition of anonymity.

"Defence surveillance will get a leg-up. It can be used in identifying terrorist camps and bunkers... some formations," the authority said.

When this satellite ends up noticeably operational, it would be "gave over" to the defence forces, which have their own "set up," including ground-stations and trained manpower to access data, the official said.

PSLV-C38 is the seventeenth flight of PSLV XL configuration (with the utilization of strong strap-on motors).

The co-traveler satellites incorporates a nano satellite designed and developed by the Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari region of Tamil Nadu.

The NIUSAT satellite would give multi-ghastly symbolism to rural product checking and disaster management support applications.

The other 29 nano satellites are from 14 nations - Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

As the satellites were injected into orbit one by one, the scientists broke into cheers at the Mission Control Center.

Commending the scientists , ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the mission was successful. "I congratulate the hardwork of the whole team, particularly the Cartosat team. This specific mission has been successful, it has put every one of the satellites into the orbit," he said.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed ISRO for the effective polar satellite dispatch conveying 31 satellites.

"Congrats to ISRO team on the successful launch of PSLV-C38 carrying 31 satellites," Mukherjee said in a tweet.

Modi said in a tweet: "Congrats to ISRO on its 40th successful Polar satellite launch carrying 31 satellites from 15 nations. Youmake us glad!"

With today's successful launch, the aggregate number of client satellites from abroad put in circle by India's workhorse PSLV achieved 209, the discharge included.

The ISRO had on June 5 propelled its most capable and heaviest geostationary rocket conveying propelled correspondence satellite GSAT-19, weighing 3,136 kg, from the spaceport here. Each phase of the three-arrange GSLV MkIII with indigenous cryogenic motor had performed well.

Kumar said the GSAT-19 has come to the assigned area and every one of the payloads have been exchanged on and it has begun performing.

He said a correspondence satellite would be propelled on June 28 "which will add critical number of transponders to our ability."

"GSAT-17 is getting propelled on June 28 (from French Guiana). We will be taking a shot at the substitution satellite for IRNSS-1A. We will likely have two Mark-II and two Mark-III launches apart from eight to ten PSLV launches per year," he said.

"Our exertion of proceeding to give expanded earth perception, route and in addition correspondence will proceed and we have numerous more exercises to be performed in the coming days," he said.

The space agency said the 29 international client Nano satellites are being propelled as a major aspect of the business plans between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), business arm of ISRO and global clients.

Cartosat-2 is a remote detecting satellite and it is similar in setup to prior satellites in the arrangement with the goal of giving high-determination scene particular spot imagery.

The imagery sent by the satellite would be helpful for cartographic applications, urban and provincial, beach front land utilize and direction, utility administration like street arrange observing, water circulation, formation of land utilize maps, change identification to bring out topographical and man-made components and different other land data framework (LIS) and geological data frameworks (GIS).

Prior on February 15, ISRO scripted history when the PSLV-37 mission propelled 104 satellites into orbit, including a Cartosat-2 series earth observation satellite.