The PSLV, which created launch history on Wednesday by placing a record 104 spacecraft in their desired orbits, has totally launched 46 Indian spacecraft, most of them Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites.
As many as 180 small satellites of foreign customers contracted by ISRO’s commercial company Antrix Corporation have also reached space on this vehicle.
The PSLV, 39 flights old since 1993, also launched the Indian Moon mission Chandrayaan-1 in 2008; and is set to launch a private lunar mission for Bengaluru start-up Team Indus in late December this year.
“It is confirmed that all 104 satellites have been successfully deployed in the orbit,” PTI quoted PSLV Project Director B. Jayakumar at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) as saying.
“After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed automatically and ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru took over the control of the satellite,” the space agency said.
In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration. Thereafter, its panchromatic (black and white) and multi-spectral (colour) cameras will start giving remote sensing services.
Two Indian co-passengers are technology demonstrators: ISRO Nano Satellite-1 (INS-1) weighing 8.4 kg and INS-2 weighing 9.7 kg.
Of the 101 foreign co-passengers, 96 came from two U.S. customers; and one each from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Kazakhstan and the UAE.
Planet Labs, a U.S. Earth observation company, alone sent up 88 of its roughly 5-kg cubesats on this vehicle.
ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar told PTI: “Now we are targeting [the bigger launchers] GSLV MarkII and then Mk III. A series of launch activities are planned this year also.”
The MkIII is designed to lift around 4,000 kg payloads to a higher geosynchronous orbit.
“It is one of the toughest missions we have handled,” said K. Sivan, Director of the launch centre, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Director P. Kunhikrishnan said the extraordinary launch reiterated ISRO’s capability to professionally handle complex missions.
Mr. Jayakumar described the feat as “a great moment for each of us,” launching 104 satellites on a single rocket was a complex, yet enjoyable mission achieved through excellent team work.
Soon after the satellites were confirmed as deployed in space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the ISRO Chairman and Team ISRO on the record-making launch.
“Congratulations to @isro for the successful launch of PSLV-C37 and Cartosat satellite together with 103 nano satellites!” Mr. Modi tweeted. “This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India salutes our scientists.”
