So, you think India has made a dent in the Space world?
- India is going to launch six foreign satellites at one go. The rocket polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) will launch the country’s own ASTROSAT weighing 1,513 kg, apart from four from the US and one each from Indonesia and Canada.
- The PSLV will carry a total payload of 1,631 kg during this mission.
But, how it will carry out this mission?
The PSLV Rocket, standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing 320.2 tonnes will blast off from the first launch pad with seven satellites.
Just over 22 minutes into the flight, the rocket will eject ASTROSAT at an altitude of around 650 km above the earth.Soon after, six other satellites will be put into orbit and the whole mission will come to an end in just over 25 minutes.
You are talking about India’s first space observatory! Really?
Yup! ASTROSAT, with a lifespan of five years, is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory that will help in understanding our universe.
ASTROSAT will observe the universe through optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray components of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing through a narrow wavelength band.
What other Foreign satellites will be with us on this journey?
The Indonesian 76 kg LAPAN-A2 is a micro-satellite from the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, meant for providing maritime surveillance using automatic identification system (AIS), supporting Indonesian radio amateur communities for disaster mitigation and carrying out earth surveillance using video and digital camera.
The 14-kg NLS-14 (Ev9) of Space Flight Laboratory, University of Toronto Institute for Advanced Studies, is also a maritime monitoring Canadian nano satellite using the next generation AIS.
The remaining 4 LEMUR nano satellites from Spire Global Inc., San Francisco, US, are non-visual remote sensing satellites, focusing primarily on global maritime intelligence through vessel tracking via AIS and high fidelity weather forecasting using GPS radio occultation technology, the ISRO said.
Till date, India has launched 45 foreign satellites with stature,Isn’t it ISRO’s success makes us proud.
