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PSLV-C29 takes off successfully with 6 Singapore satellites

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PSLV-C29 takes off successfully with 6 Singapore satellites | Business Standard News

PSLV-C29 takes off successfully with 6 Singapore satellites

The launch also enables Isro to develop rockets that can launch satellites in different orbits during one flight


The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) today successfully launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s core alone variant (PSLV-C29), which was carrying six Singaporean satellites.

Today’s mission was the second commercial mission for ISRO's commercial arm Antrix in 2015. The earlier one was in July for the launch of five British satellites.

The test will enable ISRO to develop rockets that can launch orbits at different orbits in one flight.

As scheduled, at 6 pm, the PSLV rocket standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing around 227 tonne took off from the first launch pad at Sirharikota space port, around 90 kms from Chennai. The rocket weighing around 620 kg as its luggage slung them into their intended orbit in a timeframe of over 21 minutes into its flight.

Of the six satellites, the 400 kg earth observation satellite called TeLEOS-1 is the main passenger for the PSLV rocket and hence the mission is called TeLEOS mission by ISRO.

TeLEOS-1 is Singapore's first commercial earth observation satellite designed and developed by ST Electronics. The other five co-passenger satellites are VELOX-C1 (123 kg), VELOX-II (13 kg), Kent Ridge-1 (78 kg), Galassia (3.4 kg) and Athenoxat-1.


The successful launch of these satellites takes ISRO's total flights of foreign satellites to 57.

Through this launch Isro also tested a multiple burn fuel stage/rocket engine for the first time.

"The restart and shut off of the fourth stage engine is done as a first step towards launching multiple satellites but in different orbits," said experts.


Isro has been launching multiple satellites through a single rocket, but the challenge has been how to launch several satellites at different orbits with one rocket and that is what Isro tested after PSLV ejected out six Singaporean satellites.

Today's mission is scheduled to be the last launch for ISRO in 2015. ISRO has launched 20 satellites, including three Indian and 17 foreign, from Sriharikotta this year. These includes 19 satellites were launched through PSLV rocket and one communication satellite - GSAT-6-with geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).

Last month India launched its communication satellite GSAT-15 using the Ariane rocket of the European space agency which takes the total number of satellite launches in 2015 to 21 (17 foreign, four Indian).
 
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CLARIFICATION - THIS IS NOT A PICTURE OF THIS LAUNCH. JUST POSTING COZ ITS INSPIRATIONAL!

Gslv-mkiii-x-14.jpg
 
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Isro Successfully Launches 6 Singaporean Satellites | NDTV Gadgets360.com

Isro on Wednesday launched six Singaporean satellites with its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's core alone (PSLV-CA) variant.

The PSLV rocket - standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing around 227 tonnes - took off from the rocket port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from Chennai. It rose into the evening skies with fierce orange flames at its tail.

Apart from launching the six foreign satellites, Isro also tested the rocket's fourth stage/engine's ability to restart after it was cut off around 17 minutes into the flight.

Technically speaking, India was testing a multiple burn fuel stage/rocket engine for the first time.

"The restart and shut off of the fourth stage engine is done as a first step towards launching multiple satellites but in different orbits," an Isro official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

Launching of multiple satellites with a single rocket is nothing new for Isro and it has been doing that for several years. The challenge is, however, to launch several satellites at different orbits with one rocket.

This is what Isro plans to test when the PSLV ejects the six Singaporean satellites.

The PSLV rocket is a four-stage/engine rocket powered by solid and liquid fuel alternatively.

"Restarting a rocket engine soon after it is shut off is a critical technology that has to be mastered. Once a rocket engine is activated, then the heat generated is very high. The trick is to cool it down in space and to restart it after a short gap," an industry expert told IANS.

"This is entirely different from switching on and off the communication satellite's engines in space. The interval between two restarts of a communication satellite engine will be in days. But in the case of restarting a rocket engine, the time gap will be in hours," the expert added.

"By that time the rocket's engine has to be cooled down. This part of the experiment is very critical," he explained.

The PSLV's fourth stage/engine will be restarted just over 67 minutes into the flight or 50 minutes after the engine was cut off.

At the time of restart, the fourth stage will be in a lower altitude of 523.9km while the satellites would have been ejected at 550 km altitude.

The engine will be operated for four seconds and is planned to go up to an altitude of 524 km before it is cut off again.

On December 16, Isro will be flying the 'core alone' variant of the PSLV rocket. The rocket will not have the strap-on boosters, its standard feature.

The successful launch of the six Singaporean satellites will take Isro's total flights of foreign satellites to 57.

Out of the six satellites, the 400 kg earth observation satellite called TeLEOS-1 is the main passenger for the PSLV rocket and hence the mission is called TeLEOS mission by Isro.

TeLEOS-1 is Singapore's first commercial earth observation satellite designed and developed by ST Electronics.

The other five co-passenger satellites are VELOX-C1 (123 kg), VELOX-II (13 kg), Kent Ridge-1 (78 kg), Galassia (3.4 kg) and Athenoxat-1.

The December 16 mission will be the last rocket launch mission for Isro in 2015.

So far in 2015, Isro has launched 14 satellites (three Indian and 11 foreign) from its rocket port in Sriharikota. Thirteen satellites were launched with PSLV rocket and one communication satellite - GSAT-6 - with geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).

Last month, India also launched its communication satellite GSAT-15 using the Ariane rocket of the European space agency which takes the total number of satellite launches in 2015 to 21 (17 foreign, four Indian).
 
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Isn't it ironical that a 227 ton rocket has been used to launch a 3.5 kg satellite in orbit?? :woot:

Just saying.

P.S. Those damn aliens from Mars must be laughing their asses off! :laughcry:
 
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