Heralding a new era, India on Friday launched its heaviest commercial space mission ever with its polar rocket successfully putting five British satellites into the intended orbit after a flawless takeoff...
ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar said,"We have an exclusive commercial launch for one of our customers, UK's Surrey Technologies and this PSLV launch will carry five of their satellites." This is the 30th launch of India's PSLV or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Till date, India has launched 40 satellites from 19 countries on a commercial basis.
Indian scientists have launched five British satellites into orbit from the Sriharikota space port tonight. The lift-off, which was scheduled for 9.58 pm, went smoothly. For this special launch, Britain has not only rented premium space from the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO, but its Surrey Satellite Technology Limited has also hired an entire rocket for the first time.
The 320 tonne (320,000 kilograms) rocket is as tall as a 15-storey building and will hoist, apart from a constellation of three disaster-monitoring satellites, two smaller experimental satellites into space.The total weight of the British satellites is 1440 kg, making this the heaviest commercial launch ever to be undertaken by India.
The total weight of the British satellites is 1440 kg, making this the heaviest commercial launch ever to be undertaken by India.According to ISRO, this is the heaviest commercial luggage carried by a PSLV rocket till date with the five satellites weighing around 1,440 kg.
While Friday's rocket flight is the first commercial rocket launch for the Indian space agency this calendar year, in terms of number of rocket launches for 2015, it is the second after the launch of navigation satellite-IRNSS-1D earlier in March.
Of the five payloads, three are mini-satellites DMC3-1, DMC3-2 and DMC3-3, each weighing 447 kg whereas two are auxiliary satellites, - CBNT-1 micro-satellite (91kg) and De-orbitSail (7kg).
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The three DMC3 and the CBNT-1 satellites are built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. The De-OrbitSail is built by Surrey Space Centre.
The five international satellites are being launched as part of the arrangement entered into between DMC International Imaging (DMCii), a wholly owned subsidiary of SSTL, UK and Antrix Corporation Limited.
Since 1999 till date, India has launched 40 satellites of other countries with its PSLV rocket and with today's successful launch of the five British satellites, the tally has now risen to 45.