Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today at 9.26 am launched record 20 satellites in a single mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. This launch took place after the Authorisation Board (LAB) gave the clearance on Tuesday and then the process of filling the fuel took place.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 lifted off the 22 satellites today. Along with this, it also carried the India’s earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. It is the largest-ever number of satellites launched by ISRO. Earlier in 2008, ISRO sent ten satellites in a single launch.
According to ISRO, the total weight of the 20 satellites is around 1,288 kgs. Out of which 19 co-passenger satellites weigh about 560 kg. This 19 satellites will be injected into 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. Once the injection process is completed, the satellite will be brought to an operational configuration which will help in providing regular remote sensing services using Panchromatic and Multispectral camera.
The satellites that have been launched today will be sending imagery from space which will be useful for cartographic applications, coastal land use and regulation, water distribution, rural and urban application and to have in-depth study about changes that are taking place on the ground.
ISRO had earlier said that the mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, MVV of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US. These satellites are among the microsatellites. Whereas the co-passenger include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany, Indonesia and from India, it will have two satellites.
From the USA, we have 13 satellites which also includes 12 Dove satellites from Planet Labs Organisation, two satellites are from Canada, whereas from Germany and Indonesia it has one satellite each.
