PSLV-C34
In
its thirty sixth flight (PSLV-C34),
ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 727.5 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 19
co-passenger satellites today morning (June 22, 2016) from Satish
Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty fifth
consecutively successful mission of PSLV and the fourteenth in its 'XL'
configuration. The total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on-board
PSLV-C34 was 1288 kg.
After
PSLV-C34 lift-off at 0926 hrs (9:26 am) IST from the Second Launch Pad with the
ignition of the first stage, the subsequent important flight events, namely,
strap-on ignitions and separations, first stage separation, second stage
ignition, heat-shield separation, second stage separation, third stage ignition
and separation, fourth stage ignition and cut-off, took place as planned. After
a flight of 16 minutes 30 seconds, the satellites achieved a polar Sun
Synchronous Orbit of 508 km inclined at an angle of 97.5 degree to the equator
(very close to the intended orbit) and in the succeeding
10 minutes, all the 20 satellites
successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage in a predetermined sequence.
After
separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed
automatically and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at
Bangalore took over the control of the satellite. In the coming days, the
satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following
which it will begin to provide remote sensing services using its panchromatic
(black and white) and multispectral (colour) cameras.
With today’s successful launch,
the total number of satellites launched by India’s workhorse launch vehicle
PSLV has reached 113, of which 39 are Indian and the remaining 74
from abroad.
***COURTESY BY ISRO
