Today Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched its PSLV C37 rocket carrying 104 satellites in one go along with 101 foreign satellites. ISRO hereby has carved this launch in the history of space as none of the space agencies across the globe has achieved this record. The launch took place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
ISRO got the go-ahead on Monday for its attempt to launch a record set of 104 satellites on a single rocket on Monday. Its mission readiness review committee (MRRC) as well as the launch authorization board gave the green signal for launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that carried the satellites. The MRRC, Chairman K. Narayana and LAB led by Shar director P. Kunhi Krishnan, decided to commence the countdown at 5.28am on Tuesday.
The launching today has set a benchmark in the field of space. This would serve as an inspiration to the world and the aspiring astrnomers. Successful launch was appreciated by every proud Indian and the people across the globe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded and expressed the victory of ISRO by tweeting. He also personally appreciated the Secretary of Space Department.
Congratulations to @isro for the successful launch of PSLV-C37 and CARTOSAT satellite together with 103 nano satellites!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2017
This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India salutes our scientists.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2017
Spoke to the Secretary, Department of Space and congratulated him & the entire team of scientists on today’s exceptional achievement.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2017
Nation is proud of this achievement, which has demonstrated, yet again, India’s increasing space capabilities #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) February 15, 2017
Several Ministers too lauded the successful launcing of 104 satellites by tweeting.
How the satellites will be placed?
Every satellite will be separated in different angle and at different time from the launch vehicle in order to prevent collision between satellites. The satellites will be placed in an orbit 505km above the Earth. In less than 600 seconds all 101 satellites will be released into space each travelling at a velocity of over 27,000 km per hour or at 40 times the speed of an average passenger airliner. The weight of all the satellites at launch will be around 1,378 kg.
The three Indian satellites are Cartosat-2 series weighing 730 kg as primary payload, INS-IA and INS-1B, totally weighing 30 kg. These satellites carry a total of four payloads from the Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) of ISRO for conducting various experiments. Of the 101 international co-passenger nano-satellites, 96 are from the US, and one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Eighty-eight of the American satellites belong to a San Francisco based start-up company Planet Inc which is sending a swarm of small satellites – 4.7 kg each.
In 2016, ISRO launched 20 satellites in one go where as today ISRO set a record by launching 104 satellites in one go.
Courtesy: NewsBharati
