A new modified version of the India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket which is carrying the electronic intelligence satellite named Emisat for the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and 28 third party satellites was lifted off from the second launch pad in Bengaluru, on Monday. After around 17 minutes into the flight, the rocket was to eject 436 kg Emisat into a 749 km orbit. "There is increased demand for satellites from strategic sectors. About six/seven satellites are planned to be built", said a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
After putting Emisat into the orbit, the rocket will be brought down to put 28 foreign satellites into the orbit at an altitude of 504 km. The space agency has informed that following this, the rocket will be further brought down to 485 km where the fourth stage/engine will be converted into a payload platform which will be carrying three experimental payloads namely:
(a) Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO for Maritime satellite applications capturing messages transmitted from ships
(b) Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India - to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data
(c) Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), for the structural and compositional studies of ionosphere,
Lifted off at 9.27 a.m., the whole flight sequence is expected to take around 180 minutes. Out of the 28 international customer satellites, 24 are from the US, two are from Lithuani and one each from Spain and Switzerland. These satellites will weigh around 220 kg.
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"It is a special mission for us. We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors. Further, for the first time we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes", stated the Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman: K. Sivan.
The PSLV is a third generation launch vehicle of India with four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. It is designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO. The 44.5 metre tall rocket that lifted off on Monday had four strap-on motors and its configuration has been named as the PSLV-QL.