It’s almost time for us to stand up and salute the folks working at ISRO… again! This time, for their excellent work on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) – C28. At 9:58 PM today, the satellite is set to mark one of the biggest commercial launches ever.
Now, wouldn’t it be cool to know more about this launch? Here’s what it’s all about:
1. PSLV-C28 is the heaviest commercial vehicle so far, all set to take off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh.
Sriharikota is 90 Kms from Chennai.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/567736f96e510a6f3a75c91d_651598609.jpg)
2. The s atellite’s overall lift-off mass is a whooping 1440kgs.
3. The lau nch will take 3 identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellites to a 647km sun-synchronous orbit; each of which is 3 meters in height and 447kgs in weight.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/567736f96e510a6f3a75c91d_250082376.jpg)
4. In addition to this, 2 technology demonstrator satellites: a 9kg earth observation micr o-satellite called CBNT-1 and a 7kg technology demonstration nanosatellite called De-OrbitSai; mount the DCM3 as auxiliaries.
5. That’s 5 satellites together! Among them, they can easily photograph any target on Earth’s surface.
6. They’re phased with a separation of 120° between them and will be launched into a single Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) plane.
This is what the LEO looks like.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/567736f96e510a6f3a75c91d_526084295.jpg)
7. According to ISRO’s website, their major application areas include surveying earth and its environment and resources, managing urban infrastructure and monitoring of disasters.
8. The DMC3 satellites and CBNT-1 were built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/567736f96e510a6f3a75c91d_894241252.jpg)
9. De-OrbitSail was put together by the Surrey Space Centre in the UK.
10. This is PSLV’s thirtieth optical earth observation flight and ninth in high-end ‘XL’ configuration.
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Phew! Much effort has gone into making this a success. Let’s hope it brings more glory to ISRO and India. The countdown begins now…
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