4 months after failed bid, ISRO to launch 100th satellite today
January 12, 2018 08:04
India's space agency the ISRO will launch its 100th satellite today along with 30 others in a single mission, from the space port of Sriharikota.
On its 42nd mission, the ISRO's trusted workhorse 'PSLV-C40' will carry the weather observation 'Cartosat-2' series satellite and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) at lift-off at 9.28 am.
The 44.4 metre tall rocket is all set to lift off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
The co-passenger satellites comprise one micro and nano satellite each from India as well as three micro and 25 nanosatellites from six countries -- Canada, Finland, France, Korea, the United Kingdom and United States of America.
The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kg.
The 28 international customer satellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between ISRO and its commercial arm 'Antrix Corporation Ltd'.
Of the total number of satellites carried by PSLV-C40, 30 satellites will be launched into a 505 kms polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.
The entire launch of satellites is expected to happen over a period of 2 hours and 21 seconds, it said.
It will be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series.
ISRO had successfully launched Cartosat-2 Series satellite on June 22, 2016.
It is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B.
Today's launch also marks the first launch for ISRO in 2018 following the unsuccessful mission of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H last year.
On August 31, 2017 India's mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after the heat shield did not separate in the final leg of the launch sequence and as a result, the satellite IRNSS-1H got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket.
-- PTI
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