ISRO’ PSLV-C29 successfully launched 6 Singapore satellites into space

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 16 December 2015 successfully launched 6 satellites of Singapore into Space. The satellites were launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C29 from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikotta in Andhra Pradesh.

For the PSLV, it was the 32nd flight overall, and 31st consecutive successful launch. It was also the 50th launch of a big rocket from the SDSC since the launch of SLV-3 on 10 August 1979.

On the technical front, the PSLV-C29 is significant for the ISRO. In this launch, the rocket engine was switched off for some time and then switched on successfully in the space.

This mid-space switch on & off facility is very crucial for a launch vehicle to place on-board satellites into different orbits.

Details of the launch

• TeLEOS-One: It is the major payload and is a remote sensing satellite weighing 400 kg. It’s mission life is of five years and It can be put to use for disaster monitoring and urban planning for the city state.

• Along with TeLEOS-1, the five co-passenger satellites launched are VELOX-CI (123 kg) micro-satellite; VELOX-II (13 kg) 6U-Cubesat technology demonstrator; Athenoxat-1, a technology demonstrator nano-satellite; Kent Ridge-1 (78 kg), a micro-satellite; and Galassia (3.4 kg ) 2U-Cubesat.
• While the Velox-C1 and Kent Ridge-1 are the microsatellites, the remaining four are macro satellites.
• The rocket was launched in the core-alone version (without the use of solid strap-on motors) with the lift-off mass of 227.6 tonne. It included payload weight of around 600 kg.
• The satellites were launched into a 550 km circular orbit inclined at 15 degrees to the equator.
• For ISRO’s PSLV, TeLEOS-1 Mission was the 32nd overall and the sixth fully commercial launch.
• With the present launch, ISRO has put into orbits 57 foreign satellites belonging to 20 countries successfully. Significantly, the list of countries includes scientifically advacned countries like the USA, the UK, France and Germany among others.

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