Nellore: After a four-month lull following the failure of the PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation has been gearing up to launch its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle- PSLV-C40 with Cartosat - 2 series satellite and a host of foreign satellites including some Indian satellites. The launch will take place at the end of December, 2017 or the first half of January 2018.
Isro scientists have been paying special attention to the current mission in view of the setback to the PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Mission launched on August 31, 2017. It may be recalled that the heat shield of the PSLV rocket did not open though the IRNSS-1H (Indian Regional Naviga-tion Satellite System) satellite reached sub- geosynchronous transfer orbit. This was attributed to malfunctioning of the rocket’s payload-fairing pyrotechnics. The snag had left the combined fourth stage-fairing-satellite stack stranded in a lower orbit.
Incidentally, IRNSS-1H was supposed to replace IRNSS-1A, which was the first satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. The replacement has become a necessity in view of the failure of atomic clocks in IRNSS-1A. This letdown by India’s most dependable workhorse launch vehicle with 39 successful flights out of a total of 41 to its credit, had left everyone, especially ISRO scientists, unnerved.
In this backdrop, the entire space community across the globe will be observing the launch and its success is crucial for ISRO to restore confidence among international clients waiting to launch their satellites through PSLV, a potential forex garner for the country through the launch of foreign satellites. According to sources in ISRO, the payload of PSLV-C40 is likely to be 30 satellites, including India’s Cartosat - 2 series satellite and two more micro satellites, besides 26 satellites of different sizes and shapes belonging to other countries.
With respect to the primary satellite, Cartosat-2 Series Satellite, it is a follow-up mission in the Cartosat-2 Series with the primary objective of providing high resolution scene-specific spot images for civilian and military applications. It carries Panchromatic and Multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration (TDI) mode and is capable for delivering high resolution data. Cartosat-2 Series Satellite will be launched by PSLV-C40 along with co-passenger satellites.
