Isro’s PSLV-C56 Puts 7 Satellites In Orbit; Four More Missions This Year

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(Source: The Hindu, 07/31/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, ISRO successfully completed the launch of the PSLV-C56 whose payload consisted of seven satellites including the DS-SAR from Singapore.
• ISRO is scheduled to launch four more missions in 2023 including the Gaganyaam test vehicle and INSAT 3DS.

PSLV Mission status

• The PSLV C-56 launch vehicle with its payload of seven satellites was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota on 30th July at 6:31 in the morning.
• The mission was conducted for New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• NSIL had been contracted to launch the seven satellites aboard the PSLV C-56 by agencies sponsored by the Government of Singapore.

Deorbiting Experiment

• ISRO stated that the PSLV-C56 has been successfully placed in the right orbit - a 535 km circular orbit.
• After the orbital placement, the PS4 stage was brought back to a lower orbit of 295 km x 300 km orbit.
  • This reduces the time spent in space by the craft before reentering Earth’s atmosphere from more than two decades to less than two months.
  • This technique is part of ISRO and India’s commitment to reduce space debris and ensure the sustainable use of space in a way that benefits everyone.

Payload

• DS-SAR: It is a 360 kg satellite that will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of agencies under the Government of Singapore.
  • It was developed through a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering.
  • Capabilities: All-weather day and night coverage and imaging at a 1-meter resolution with full polarimetry.
  • It will be placed into a Near-equatorial Orbit (NEO) of 535 Km altitude at 5° inclination.
• VELOX-AM: It is a 23 kg technology demonstration microsatellite that will operate in a Low-orbit airport.
• ARCADE: The Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE) is an experimental satellite developed by Singapore Space Research Agency.
• SCOOB-II: It is a 3U nanosatellite with a technology demonstrator payload.
• NuLIoN: It is an advanced 3U nanosatellite built by NuSpace to enable seamless IoT connectivity in urban and remote locations.
• Galassia-2: It is a 3U nanosatellite that will orbit Earth in a low earth orbit.
• ORB-12 STRIDER: It is a satellite developed under an International collaboration with multiple payloads for in-orbit testing and demonstration.

Future Missions of ISRO

• A PSLV mission in August or September
• Gaganyaan test vehicle
• Third development mission of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle mission for launching INSAT-3DS.

PSLV

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is India’s third-generation launch vehicle.
• It was the first Indian launch vehicle equipped with liquid stages and was first launched in October 1994.
• It was used in the launch of the Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 and to place satellites from the IRNSS Constellation into orbit.
• Stages:
  • First (PS1): Consists of S139 solid rocket motor augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters.
  • Second (PS2): The Vikas engine, an Earth-storable liquid rocket engine developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
  • Third (PS3): A solid rocket motor that provides high thrust in the upper stages after the atmospheric phase of the launch.
  • Fourth (PS4): The uppermost stage of PSLV comprises two Earth-storable liquid engines.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements about the NSIL:

1. It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Space.
2. It is the commercial and marketing arm of ISRO.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) 1 and 2

(d) None