Many firsts in ISRO`s EMISAT launch |
April 1st saw the successful launch of India`s latest observation satellite EMISAT with 28 other customer payloads on the Indian Space Research Organisation`s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C45 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The Electronic Intelligence Satellite - EMISAT, developed in India would be used for monitoring radar network by India. Weighing 436 kg, EMISAT is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. It will be placed in an orbit of about 753 km altitude. The other 28 customer payloads are 24 from US, 2 from Lithuania and one each from Spain and Switzerland. They will be placed into space at an altitude of about 505 km. There are several features that are being adopted for the “first time” during Monday`s launch. The principal “first-time” innovation this time is the multiple orbits involved in the mission. ISRO says the main satellite EMISAT and the 28 customer satellites will be fed into two different orbits, and later, the fourth stage engine of the rocket will be taken to a third orbit in space. Another “first-time” feature during the launch is the configuration of the workhorse rocket PSLV. PSLV used to fly either with six strap-ons or no strap-on, but now it will zoom into space with four strap-on motors.
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