PSLV
PSLV
in its 27th flight launched SPOT-7 a French earth observation
satellite into a 655 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). PSLV launched from
the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This will be the
10th flight of PSLV without the use of solid strap-on
motors.
SPOT-7
is a French optical earth observation satellite. (This is identical to SPOT-6
launched earlier on-board PSLV-21 during September 2012). SPOT-7, after its
injection into Sun Synchronous Orbit, will be phased and placed diametrically
opposite to SPOT-6 and will form part of the existing earth observation
constellation. SPOT-7 satellite is built by Airbus Defence & Space, a
leading European space technology company. After more than 17 minutes of flight,
the PSLV C23 will put SPOT-7 in the designated orbit.
Along
with SPOT-7, there will be 4 co-passenger satellites, AISAT from DLR, Germany,
NLS7.1 & NLS7.2 from UTIAS/SFL, Canada and VELOX-1 from NTU,
Singapore.
AISAT’s
mission objective is global
sea-traffic monitoring system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using
AIS signals. It is the first DLR Satellite in the nano-satellite class. NLS7.1
& NLS7.2 have been designed for sub-metre level accurate position control
system. VELOX- has been designed as a technology demonstrator for in-house
design of image sensor and inter-satellite RF link.
The
44.4 meter tall PSLV weighs 230 tones and has four
stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately, solid
propellant for its 1st & 3rd stages, liquid propellant
for the 2nd & 4th stages. An Advanced Inertial
Navigation System (AINS) developed by ISRO is being used in this
flight.
The
reliability rate of PSLV has been superb. There had been 25 continuously
successful flights of PSLV, till April 2014. With its variant configurations,
PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch
and its geosynchronous launch capability. PSLV has rightfully earned the status
of workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO
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