The 53rd flight of the PSLV-C51 marks the first dedicated mission to New Space India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO.
ISRO successfully launched Brazil’s Earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites from India on Sunday [5] and the USA [13] of the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SHAR) in Sriharikota.
The satellites were carried aboard the PSLV-C51, the 53rd Indian launcher flight and the first dedicated mission to New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. The mission was undertaken under a commercial agreement with Spaceflight Inc., USA.
The PSLV-C51, fitted with two sturdy strap-on boosters, the third launch of the PSLV-DL variant, took off at 10:24 a.m. from the first launch pad in Sriharikota.
DRDO payload
Of the 13 US satellites, one was a technology demonstration satellite and the rest were for two-way communications and data relay. Among the five Indian satellites, one belongs to DRDO.
Five satellites belong to India including the Satish Dhawan SAT (SDSAT) built by Space Kidz India, a nano-satellite designed to study radiation levels, space weather and demonstrate long-range communication technologies, and the UNITYsat, a combination of three satellites intended to provide radio relay services. The other satellite belongs to DRDO.
The SDSAT developed by SpaceKids India has an engraving of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the top panel of the satellite to show solidarity and gratitude for the atmanirbhar initiative and the privatization of space, SpaceKidz said. The Bhagavad Gita was also sent aboard an SD card to impart scripture, which teaches oneness as the highest form of humanity, the greatest honor, he says.
The UNITYsat was designed and built as a joint development by the Jeppiar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, GH Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.
Watch the Amazon
About 16 minutes after takeoff, the PS-4 engine was shut down and the Amazonia-1, weighing 637 kg, belonging to the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), was separated a minute later. The satellite will further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users to monitor deforestation in the Amazon region and for analysis of diversified agriculture in Brazilian territory, according to ISRO. The Amazonia-1 was injected into its precise 758 km orbit in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.
“This moment represents the pinnacle of all these efforts of so many people within our National Institute for Space Research and our space agency. This is a very important mission for Brazil and it represents a new era for the Brazilian satellite industry. This is a positive step in our partnership which will develop. Congratulations on a great launch. We will work together and this is the start of our partnership, ”said Brazilian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Marcos Cesar Pontes.
Subsequently, the other 18 client satellites were placed in their planned orbits. The entire mission operation lasted about 1 hour and 55 minutes.
“This particular mission is special because these five Indian satellites come under the new space reform announced by the Indian government. These institutes have done an excellent job. ISRO promoted them, portable and throughout helped them build these satellites technically properly to launch them, ”said ISRO President K. Sivan.
He said ISRO had scheduled 14 missions this year, including the first unmanned mission towards the end of the year.