The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday, 1 April, launched the PSLV-C45 rocket which successfully injected the electronic intelligence satellite (EMISAT) into sun-synchronous polar orbit. The 28 customer satellites, onboard the rocket, were also placed into their designated orbit.
The PSLV C45 was launched from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
The mission is the first time ISRO is launching satellites in three different orbits. Along with that, the PSLV-C45 launch vehicle is also the first PSLV rocket to use four strap-on motors. The four strap-on motor rockets are from the PSLV-QL range. Till now, these launch vehicles had used either a two strap-on or six strap-on configuration.
This is also the first launch to use solar panels to make the fourth stage last longer in orbit. Using the solar panels in the fourth stage, the PSLV can provide power to attached payloads almost indefinitely, ISRO said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the ISRO scientists for the launch.
The mission is carrying the EMISAT intelligence satellite and the Bluewalker1, along with secondary payloads like the Lemur M6P Lemur-2 X1, Lemur-2 X2, Lemur-2 X3 and the Lemur-2 X4, out of the total 29-satellite payload. The Lemur M6P is to be launched in sun-synchronous orbits.
DRDO's EMISAT satellite weighs about 420 kg.
PSLV-C45: First Launch Vehicle to Use Solar Propulsion
The PSLV C-45 rocket has four stages: Each self-contained, having its separate propulsion system, which allows them to function independently. The first and third stages use composite solid propellants, while the second stage uses earth-storable liquid propellant. The solar panels are used in the fourth stage:
- Stage 1: Composite Solid
- Stage 2: Earth Storable Liquid
- Stage 3: Composite Solid
- Stage 4: Solar panels
Stage four will keep the launch vehicle in orbit for about six months to carry out experiments. It will use microgravity to carry out the experiments and will carry a small payload built by the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Trivandrum, The Print reported.
The Mission
ISRO Chief K Sivan, on 23 February, had told ANI that ISRO would launch the PSLV C45 on 21 March. Before that, the reports stated 14 March to be the launch date for the mission. However, the date was confirmed by ISRO in a tweet on Monday, 25 March.
(With inputs from ANI, IANS, The Print and Gunter’s Space Page)
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