PSLV-C42 LAUNCHES TWO FOREIGN SATELLITES
It will carry two earth observation satellites of Britain’s Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), NovaSAR and S1-4, weighing 450kg each.
The Indian Space Research Organisation has launched two British satellites tonight for which India will earn upwards of Rs. 200 crore.
No Indian satellite is being launched as this is a fully commercial launch contracted through Antrix Corporation Limited ISRO’s commercial arm.
It is the 44th launch of the Indian rocket the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at Sriharikota.
Describing it as a “fully commercial launch by ISRO”, Dr S Somnath, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram said, “India will earn money by this launch”.
Mr Somnath explains “this is the fifth fully commercial launch of PSLV where the whole rocket has been hired by a foreign company”.
He says “PSLV has a very special slot hence foreign companies prefer it because it is highly reliable and India’s offers timely launches without much of a waiting period“.
USE OF THIS SATELLITE
NovaSAR satellite has day and night viewing capability for resource mapping, disaster management and ship detection.
NovaSar is equipped to track ships in high seas and if used effectively it can detect unauthorised boats sailing the seas since each ship is supposed to carry equipment by which it can be identified by security agencies using satellite-based tracking systems.
S1-4 satellite is meant for environment monitoring and urban management.
PSLV POLAR SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a third-generation rocket launcher designed, manufactured and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
FOUR STAGES OF PSLV
PSLV has a four-stage system comprising a combination of solid and liquid-fuelled rocket stages.
The first stage at the very bottom is solid fuelled having six strap-on solid rocket boosters wrapped around it.
The second stage is liquid fuelled.
The third stage has a solid-fuelled rocket motor.
At the fourth stage, the launcher uses a liquid propellant to boost in the outer space.
Antrix Corporation Limited is Mini Ratna.
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