The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on February 14 launched India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C52 along with two smaller co-passenger satellites into an intended sun synchronous polar orbit of 529 km altitude at 06:17 hours IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota.
This was ISRO’s 80th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota; 54th flight of PSLV; and the 23rd flight of PSLV in XL configuration (6 strap-on motors) and first launch mission of 2022.
The PSLV lifted off at 05:59 hours IST from the first launch pad at SHAR.
It is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to provide high quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology and Flood mapping.
Weighing about 1710 kg, it generates 2280 W power and has a mission life of 10 years.
The vehicle also placed two small satellites a student satellite (INSPIREsat-1) from Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at University of Colorado, Boulder and a technology demonstrator satellite (INS-2TD) from ISRO, which is a precursor to India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).
Co-passenger satellites were successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath congratulated team ISRO for the precision with which the mission was accomplished.