ISRO eyeing a record: Preparing to launch 104 Satellites in a single mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is on the cusp of making history when it sends 104 satellites(3 Indian+101 Foreign) into orbit on its PSLV-C37 rocket on February 15 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. If the mission is successful, then ISRO will hold the record of most satellites launched in a single go. The most Satellites successfully launched by ISRO are 20 carried by PSLV-C34. Previously, this record was held by Russian Space Agency, Dnepr launcher holds the record for lifting 37 satellites to orbit in June 2014.

More information related to PSLV-C37 Vehicle, its Occupants and The Mission:

1.   PSLV (Polar SatelliteLaunching Vehicle):

The PSLV is one of world's most reliable launch vehicles. It has been in service for over twenty years and has launched various satellites for historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS) etc. PSLV remains a favourite among various organisations as a launch service provider and has launched over 40 satellites for 19 countries. In 2008 it created a record for most number of satellites placed in orbit in one launch by launching 10 satellites into various Low Earth Orbits.

Vehicle Specifications:

Height              : 44 m

Diameter           : 2.8 m

Number of Stages  : 4

Lift Off Mass       : 320 tonnes (XL)

Variants            : 3(PSLV-G, PSLV - CA, PSLV - XL)

First Flight         : September 20, 1993

Last Flight         : December 07, 2016(-XL carrying RESOURCESAT-2A)

2.    Occupants:

        a)    Indian Satellites:

i)     CARTOSAT- 2 Series Satellite:

It’s the main occupant of the PSLV weighing 650 Kgs and roughly covering half the space of the launch vehicle. It is the fourth satellite in the CARTOSAT series, a very High Resolution Earth Observation satellite. It will be the best Indian Eye for imaging Earth through space.

ii)    INS-1A and INS-1B:

            The two other satellites, Nano satellites weighing about 10 Kg each                            and having a lifespan of 6 to 12 months.          

         b)    Foreign Satellites:

i)     US Satellites:

There will be 88 Doves (Nano Satellites, also called Doves) of Planet (An Earth Observatory Company run by former NASA Scientists). It will be released in the sets of four cubesats. The 88 cubesats are part of Planet’s earth observation constellation of 100 satellites. They weigh around 5 kg each and are called ‘Doves’ or Flock 3p. For Planet, too, it will be the record largest number of cubesats to be flown in a single launch.

ii)    Other Countries:

The other co-passengers of the mission will be from different countries as well. Israel, the UAE, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany will be having their small specialised satellites to be placed in their orbits at around 500 Km from Earth.

3. The Mission:

The Mission of PSLV-C37 will be to place the CARTOSAT series satellite into the sun-synchronous orbit, about 500 km above the earth.