News Analysis India

Tag: PSLV-C51

  • ISRO launches PSLV-C51 carrying Brazil’s Amazonia-1, 18 other satellites

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: India’s Polar rocket on Sunday successfully launched Amazonia-1 satellite of Brazil from the spaceport, in the first mission of the year for space agency ISRO from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:24 am.

    The 637-kg Amazonia-1, which became the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India, is an optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE). It is the first dedicated PSLV commercial mission by New Space India Limited (NSIL)– commercial arm of Department of Space.This is also the first time Brazil is launching its satellite on an Indian rocket. It is the first satellite that is completely designed, tested, integrated and operated by National Institute for Space Research (INPE) Brazil. 

    Amazonia-1 carries with it a wide field camera with 850 km swath and 60m resolution. It has two solar panels to charge its Lithium Ion Batteries. The optical Earth observation satellite has a lifespan of more than four years. 

    Stunning glimpses of today’s lift-off#PSLVC51 #Amazonia1 #NSIL #INSPACe pic.twitter.com/MQJzAROxaV
    — ISRO (@isro) February 28, 2021

    It will be another satellite for Brazil to monitor the Amazon region and the deforestation therein. It is meant to help analyse diversified agriculture across the area of Brazil. 

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    Brazilian minister for Science and Technology and Innovation Marcos Pontes said “many years have gone into the satellite and the moment represented the pinnacle of all efforts by many from the National Institute of Space Research, Brazil and the Brazilian Space Agency.”

    Pontes said “the satellite has a very crucial mission in Brazil — it is another satellite to monitor the Amazon and other biomes in Brazil and represents new era of Brazilian industry for satellite development. He said the multi mission platform can be used for other satellites.”

    He said they couldn’t have chosen a better place than India. He further added that this was an important step in the partnership of the two states. 

    “I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV-C51 successfully launched in precise orbit Aamazonia-1 today. The satellite is in very good health and solar panels have been deployed,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced amid applause from the scientists.

    This is the first commercial launch of NSIL. NSIL CMD Narayanan said that in the peak of COVID-19, Indian space sector stepped out from the old to the new. NSIL under department of Space had its presence in the earlier three PSLV missions through customer auxiliary payloads, he said this was the first dedicated mission of NSIL with the launch of first totally-Brazilian built Earth Observation Satellite. 

    NSIL will also provide tracking service from its facility

    The mission is being undertaken under a commercial arrangement with Space Flight Inc USA and injected 18 other satellites in their respective orbits. These include a cluster of 12 satellites by SpaceBee, USA, one ARC satellite by DRDO, one satellite by Spacekits India, three satellited developed by students from Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperambudur, G H Raisoni College of Engineering Nagpur, and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology Coimbatore. 

    Hands full this year, says Sivan 

    Our hands are full this year, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Sivan on Sunday. He was speaking at the launch of Amazonia-1, . Sivan said that ISRO has 14 missions lined up this year. 

    “As many as seven are launch vehicle missions and six are satellite missions. One is the unmanned Gaganyaan mission slated at the end of 2021,” he said. “ISRO will rise to the occasion and achieve these targets towards meeting national demands,” he said. 

    Warning people that the pandemic was not over yet, he said that the work at the organisation would go on while maintaining all quality norms. 

  • 14 missions in 2021: ISRO Chairman K Sivan says ‘hands full this year’

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: After the successful launch of PSLV-C51, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Sivan has affirmed that the space organisation has its ‘hands full’ this year.

    He was talking at the launch of Amazonia-1 of Brazil and 18 other satellites from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota, which is also the first mission of the year for ISRO.

    Sivan said that India and ISRO feel proud to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite.

    “In this mission, India and ISRO, feel extremely proud, honoured and happy to launch the first satellite designed, integrated and operated by Brazil. I congratulate the Brazilian team for this achievement. The satellite is in very good health and I congratulate all for this and compliment the entire Brazilian team,” Sivan said after the launch event.

    ALSO READ | ISRO launches PSLV-C51 carrying Brazil’s Amazonia-1, 18 other satellites

    K Sivan said ISRO has 14 missions lined up for 2021 and as many as seven are launch vehicle missions and six are satellite missions. One is the unmanned Gaganyaan mission by the end of 2021.

    He warned peers that the country was still not out of the pandemic and ensured that work at the organization will take place with all the COVID-19 SOPs in place.

    ​”The new normal instituted at ISRO centres are working well,” he added. 

    Five satellites, he said, came under the recently announced new space reforms — wherein ISRO handheld these entities and ensured that satellites are built correctly and launched precisely. He hoped this would enthuse many others to build and launch their satellites with the space agency. 

  • ISRO launches PSLV-C51 carrying 19 satellites

    By ANI
    NeELLORE: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C51 carrying Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite and 18 other satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

    PSLV-C51 launched Amazonia-1, an optical earth observation satellite, and 18 other satellites on Sunday at 10:24 am.

    A Brazilian delegation was present at Satish Dhawan Space Centre for the launch. ISRO chief K. Sivan was also present.

    PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space. The NSIL is undertaking this mission under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc. USA.

    Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

    Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51), which is the 53rd mission of PSLV launched Amazonia-1 of Brazil as the primary satellite. A total of 18 Co-passenger satellites were also lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:24 am on Sunday.

    The 18 co-passenger satellites include four from IN-SPACe (three UNITYsats from the consortium of three Indian academic institutes and One Satish Dhawan Sat from Space Kidz India) and 14 from NSIL.

  • ISRO completes launch rehearsal of PSLV-C51 mission, two satellites drop out

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Thursday completed launch rehearsal of the PSLV-C51 mission slated for February 28.

    India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51) is scheduled to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 as primary satellite and 18 co-passenger satellites from first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharkota, about 100 km from Chennai, at 10.24 am on Sunday.

    The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency had announced on February 5 that there would be 20 co-passenger satellites.

    Indian Space start-up Pixxel announced two days ago that due to “certain software issues” its first satellite ‘Anand’ would no longer be part of the payload on board the PSLV-C51 rocket.

    And on Thursday ISRO confirmed that its nano satellite INS-2DT will also be not part of the mission.

    “INS-2TD also faced some technical issues and could not make it to this flight, PSLV-C51,” Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) G Narayanan told PTI.

    PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission is the first dedicated PSLV commercial mission for NSIL, which is undertaking it under a commercial arrangement with Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc.

    PSLV-C51 will use ‘DL’ variant of PSLV equipped with two solid strap-on boosters, according to ISRO.

    The 637-kg Amazonia-1 is a optical earth observation satellite.

    The 18 co-passenger satellites are: four from IN- SPACe (three UNITYsats from consortium of three Indian academic institutes and one Satish Dhawan Sat from Space Kidz India) and 14 from NSIL.

    IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) is an independent nodal agency under Department of Space (DoS) for allowing space activities and usage of DoS-owned facilities by NGPEs (Non-Government- Private-Entities) as well as to prioritise the launch manifest.

    ISRO is also getting ready to launch a new- generation compact rocket on its maiden orbital test flight, the space agency said.

    Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO has over the years realised five generation of launch vehicles — SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV-MkIII.

    It had taken up development of the mini rocket — Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) — to cater to emerging global small satellite launch service market.

    Multiple sources in ISRO said on Thursday SSLV-D1 is targeted to be launched towards the end of March or early April — most likely in the first month of the financial year — though no firm date has been set so far.

    “We are flying an earth observation satellite (EOS-02) on board the the first development flight of SSLV”, ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, K Sivan told PTI.

    SSLV has been designed to meet “launch on demand” requirements in a cost-effective manner for small satellites in a dedicated and rideshare mode.

    It is a three-stage all solid vehicle with a capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km low earth orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

    By comparison, PSLV — the workhorse of ISRO — can take up to 1,750 kg payload into SSO of 600 km altitude, according to ISRO officials.

    With lower per kg launch cost, the mini launcher will have multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and small satellites.

    Sivan had earlier termed the SSLV an innovative vehicle which can be assembled in just 72 hours.

    “Instead of 60 days (for building a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be assembled in three days; instead of 600 people (needed to build a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be done by six people”, he had said.

    Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), G Narayanan said: “world over there is a big boom for small launch vehicles and that’s why we are focusing on that”.

    “As soon as SSLV-D1flight is over successfully, further roadmap (for SSLV) will be charted out”, Narayanan told PTI.

    In fact, Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc, has already purchased the first commercial launch of the SSLV (SSLV-D2) from NSIL for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

    Spaceflight had said at the time that it has already sold-out the entire manifest (launch) for this secured SSLV-D2 launch, with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based satellite constellation customer.

    This undisclosed customer is reportedly Seattle-based BlackSky Global which will launch four earth observation satellites on board SSLV-D2 in the rideshare mission arranged Spaceflight.

    “We’re taking advantage of the growth in the small satellite market to deliver more launch options with the mini-launcher”, a senior NSIL official said.

    “The SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in the portfolio of small launch vehicles,” CEO and President of Spaceflight, Curt Blake, had said.

    “SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with very quick turn-around capability in between launches. SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs”, Blake had said.