CHENNAI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to launch electronic intelligence satellite Emisat for Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), along with 28 international satellites on Monday.
PSLV-C45, a new variant of PSLV rocket, along with 29 satellites will be launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota at 9.27 a.m.
The 27-hour countdown for the launch has commenced on Sunday at 6.27 am.
“For the first time, we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes. The PSLV rocket will have four strap-on motors,” Isro chairman K. Sivan said.
The PSLV rocket will first inject Emisat into a 749-km orbit.
"It would be followed by two fourth stage restarts to achieve a 504-km orbit where all customer satellites will be injected. Subsequently, the fourth stage is will be restarted again to achieve 485-km orbit to serve as an orbital platform to carry out space borne experimentation," Isro said.
The duration of the mission will be more than 180 minutes.
The experimental payload includes Automatic Identification System (AIS) from Isro for maritime applications capturing messages transmitted from ships — Automatic Packet Repeating System from AMSAT to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data.
Another experiment called Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) will study the structure and composition of the ionosphere.
The 28 customer satellites are from the US, Switzerland, Lithuania and Spain. The satellites together weigh 220 kg. The satellites are being launched for multiple purposes including earth observation and vessel automatic identification system and Internet of Things.
