PSLV C 19- launches RISAT-1

The PSLV-C19, the newest in the series of polar satellite launch vehicles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), lifted off from Sriharikota early on Thursday.

 Its mission: to placethe radar imaging satellite,RISAT-1, in orbit.

There was the customarily tense countdown at the Indian Space Research Organisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. At precisely 5.47 a.m., the launch vehicle's igniters and set of six strap-on motors roared into action within seconds to signal the successful lift-off of the PSLV-C19 with the RISAT -1.

RISAT-1 weighs 1858 kg, the heaviest satellite being launched yet by the PSLV. It can beam back imaging of the earth surface features during day and night and under all imagined weather conditions. The synthetic aperture radar, which gives the RISAT-1 its magic lens, also makes it superior to optical remote sensing satellites in terms of clearer imaging.

Once the PSLV-C19 successfully completed each of the four stages of its flight in a span of 18 minutes and reported normal parameters, congratulatory scenes broke out at the Mission Directorate at Sriharikota.

All round cheer

Addressing the team of scientists and engineers, ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said he was happy to announce that the PSLV-C19 was a “grand success”.

Prof. Radhakrishnan also laid out the roadmap of PSLV launches during the year ahead. He stated that the ground tests of the GSLV driven by indigenous cryogenic technology had been promising and was scheduled completion in September-October this year.

Prof. Yashpal and Prof. U.R. Rao, two of ISRO's founding fathers, were also present to partake in the celebrations of what they described as a landmark event.

According to ISRO scientists, once the satellite gets into the orbit at an altitude of 536 km, it will begin its daily routine of 14 orbits. During its mission life of five years, RISAT-1 will use its active microwave remote sensing capability for cloud penetration and day-night imaging of the earth surface and provide critical data inputs for a range of applications.

The satellite's applications will range across agriculture, management of natural disasters such as floods and cyclones and will greatly assist food security planning in India.

The PSLV C-19 is the 21st flight in the PSLV series of satellite launches and the third to involve the high-end version (PSLV-XL).

This extra large rocked was equipped with six extended strap-on motors, each carrying 12 tonnes of solid propellant. The two earlier flights of PSLV-XL were used to launch Chandrayaan-1 and GSAT-12 communication satellite.

The RISAT-1 is expected to unfold its sensors and send back active imaging in five days.

Important milestone: PM

Hailing the successful launch, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the ISRO scientists for displaying mastery of the complex launch vehicle technology.

-- the hindu