Nellore: India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle - C52 (PSLV-C52) on Monday injected the earth observation satellite (EOS-04) and two small satellites into the orbit of 529 km altitude at 6.17 am from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, in Sriharikota.
The PSLV-C52 lifted off majestically into space leaving orange flames behind as per schedule at 5.59 am from the first launch pad at SHAR.
After separation, the two solar arrays of EOS-04 deployed automatically and the Isro Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru assumed control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin sending data. EOS-04 is a radar imaging satellite designed to provide high quality images under all weather conditions for applications in agriculture, forestry and plantations, soil moisture and hydrology and flood mapping.
The PSLV-C52 also placed two small satellites, one a student satellite (INSPIRESat-1) from the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at University of Colorado Boulder, and the other a technology demonstrator satellite (INS-2TD) from Isro, which is a precursor to India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists on the successful launch of PSLV-C52 mission. Modi tweeted, "Congratulations to our space scientists on the successful launch of PSLV C52 mission. EOS-04 satellite will provide high resolution images under all weather conditions for agriculture, forestry and plantations, soil moisture and hydrology as well as flood mapping."
The mission marks the first launch after Dr S. Somanath took charge as Isro chief from Dr K. Sivan on January 14. Incidentally, Dr Somanath had played a key role in the overall design of PSLV and GSLV Mk-III rockets.
Soon after the launch, a beaming Dr Somanath announced that the mission was successful and congratulated the entire ISRO team for the accomplishment. He said that the EOS-04 earth observation satellite will be a huge asset for the country. Later, director of EOS-04, C.V. Sreekanth said the satellite was in good health and it would start sending images after a couple of two days.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan congratulated ISRO scientists for the successful launch of PSLV- C52.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the Chief Minister said the success would propel the Indian space capabilities on par with developed nations and wished Isro success in its future endeavours.
AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said the successful space mission added another feather in the cap of India's space programme and wished them many more successes in the future.
This was the 80th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota, 54th flight of PSLV-C52 and the 23rd flight of PSLV in XL configuration (6 strap-on motors).
The satellite EOS-04 was realised at U.R. Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. Weighing about 1,710 kg, it generates 2280 W power and has a mission life of 10 years.
The satellite is expected to play a crucial role in defence applications as it is capable of capturing images both during the day and night and in all weather conditions. Having a thermal imaging camera as its payload, the benefits from the satellite include assessment of land surface temperature; water surface temperature of wetlands/lakes; delineation of vegetation (crops and forest); and thermal inertia (day/night).
INSPIRESat-1 and INS-2TD, the co-passenger satellites were successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence. All the three satellites were injected close to the intended orbits within 18 minutes after PSLV-C52 zoomed into space.
The mission life of INS-2TD is six months. The 8.1-kg INSPIREsat-1 is a student satellite developed by IIST and the University of Colorado.It has a life span o.f one year. The other contributors include NTU, Singapore and NCU, Taiwan.
