ISRO launches PSLV's longest flight SCATSAT-1 for ocean, weather studies
Chennai: ISRO on Monday successfully launched eight satellites on board the 320-tonne PSLV-C35 rocket, including the weather satellite ScatSat-1, in two different orbits from Sriharikota.
The rocket blasted off from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.12 am on Monday.
“Instead of having two launches independently for two different orbits, we are putting these satellites in one launch,” Isro officials said earlier.
The PSLV-C35 rocket is carrying the 377 kg ScatSat-1 - for weather and ocean-related studies - and seven co-passenger satellites into Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
This entire mission will last for more than two hours and 15 minutes, which is also ISRO's longest mission ever.
In this mission, the weather satellite ScatSat-1, which costs approximately Rs 120 crore, will be put into an orbit 720 km above the earth around 17 minutes into the flight.
Seven smaller satellites for remote sensing and earth observation purposes will be placed into an orbit 670 km above the earth around two hours later.
The ScatSat-1 weather satellite will help scientists forecast important information on cyclones and monitor their land fall. It will also help them retrieve valuable weather-related data in real time.
Besides ScatSat-1, two other satellites, including PRATHAM and PISAT, have been developed by Indian students.
The 5kg student-developed satellite PISAT developed by students of PES University, Bengaluru will study total electron count in space, while the other satellite, PRATHAM, developed by IIT Bombay will take pictures of earth.
Congratulating ISRO for the successful launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Moment of immense joy and pride for India. Congrats to ISRO on successful launch of PSLV-C35/SCATSAT-1 & 7 co-passenger satellites.”
He also praised ISRO scientists for the innovative space mission. “Their innovative zeal has touched the lives of 125 crore Indians and made India proud worldwide," he added.
