New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its PSLV-C56 rocket carrying seven Singaporean satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
The launch took place at 6.30 am IST and approximately 23 minutes after liftoff, the main satellite DS-SAR and six co-passenger satellites were injected into a 535-kilometer circular orbit with an inclination of five degrees.
DS-SAR, a Radar Imaging Earth Observation satellite, is the primary satellite for the mission. It carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The satellite can capture detailed and precise images with a resolution of one meter and full polarimetry.
The co-passenger satellites include VELOX-AM, a microsatellite developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, for a technology demonstration of Additive Manufacturing (AM) payloads.
This is the 58th flight of PSLV and the 17th flight of PSLV in Core Alone configuration. This is also the fourth dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, for the Government of Singapore.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath congratulated the team for the successful launch and thanked the customers for their continued faith in PSLV. He also said that ISRO is planning another PSLV mission soon in August or early September.
NewSpace India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director D Radhakrishnan said that this mission shows the kind of trust the customer has laid on ISRO’s services and the most reliable launcher, the PSLV. He also said that Singapore is planning many more missions in the future and they will continue to have trust in ISRO’s services.
Which other 6 satellites were launched
- VELOX-AM: It is a technology demonstrator microsatellite weighing 23 kg.
- ARCADE: This is also an experimental satellite.
- SCOOB-II: 3U is a nanosatellite designed to test a specific type of technology demonstration.
- NuLIoN: A state-of-the-art 3U nanosatellite. With this, the facility of Internet of Things will be provided in cities and remote areas without any hindrance.
- Galassia-2: is a 3U nanosatellite, which will be placed in low Earth orbit.
- ORB-12 STRIDER: is an important satellite made under the international collaboration. Which is manufactured by Aliena Pte Ltd Company of Singapore.
