The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C43/HysIS mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Thursday. This mission, the sixth one this year made use of a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), also witnessed the launch of HysIS – India’s own earth observation satellite. The satellite will be accompanied by 29 other satellites developed by various nations, including 23 from the US.
The PSLV launcher, has a total length of 39.4m and consists of a four-stage rocket, that has alternating solid and liquid stages. PSLV-C43 is a core-alone version of the launch vehicle, and the lightest one in operation. This launch, if successfully carried out, will be the 13th successful launch of this PSLV model.
PSLV-C43 mission’s payload consists of the HysIS satellite, one micro-satellite and 29 nano satellites. The combined weight of the satellites is 641.5kg.
PSLV-C43 mission’s payload consists of the HysIS satellite, one micro-satellite and 29 nano satellites. The combined weight of the satellites is 641.5kg. While the 30 foreign satellites will be launched at an altitude of 504 km from the Earth’s surface, ISRO’s HysIS satellite will be launched at an altitude of 636 km. The satellite will be put into a polar synchronous orbit, which sets it in motion along the axis that runs along the Earth’s geographic North and South Pole.
ISRO PSLV-C43 mission: HysIS satellite instruments, objectives
The Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), an earth observation satellite developed by ISRO, is the primary satellite of the PSLV-C43 mission.
The Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), an earth observation satellite developed by ISRO, is the primary satellite of the PSLV-C43 mission.
The mass of the spacecraft is about 380 kg, the space agency said adding that the satellite would be placed in 636 km-polar sun synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.957 degree.
The primary goal of HysIS, whose mission life is five years, is to study the earth's surface in visible near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The co-passengers of HysIS include 1 micro and 29 nano satellites from eight different countries. All these satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corporation Limited. All the satellites would be placed in a 504 km orbit by PSLV-C43, the space agency said
PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages.
PSLV-C43, which is the 45th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), is the 'Core Alone' version of PSLV. It is the lightest version of the launch vehicle.
This was ISRO's second launch in the month. The space agency had launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-29 on board GSLV MkIII-D2 on November 14.
(With PTI inputs)
