PSLV-C49 successfully placed EOS-01, 9 customer satellites ‘precisely’ into orbit: ISRO

In yet another text-book launch, Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) work-horse - the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - in its 51st mission (PSLV-C49) successfully launched with precision all the ten satellites - primary EOS-01satellite (of India) and nine international customer satellites into the orbit.

The launch was originally scheduled to be at 1502 hr but was delayed by ten minutes. No reason was given for the delay. However, it was raining heavily.

For the first time this year, a rocket roared from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, Sriharikota. The PSLV-C49 launched EOS-01 as primary satellite along with nine international customer satellites of Lithuania (1 - for technology demonstration); Luxembourg (4 - for maritime applications) and the US (4 - for multi-mission remote sensing).

At 1512 hr the rocket lifted off from the first launch pad into the sky as it rained. Sadly, none was there in the media gallery or in the public viewing gallery to cheer the 76th launch mission from SDSC SHAR due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

The EOS-01, which was separated precisely in 14 minutes after lift off, is an earth observation satellite intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. The customer satellites were launched under commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited, Department of Space, says a release by ISRO.

This is the first launch in the last ten months with the previous launch from Sriharikota was on December 11, 2019, when ISRO launched the 50th PSLV and its 75th launch from the spaceport.

'Successful launch'

K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO, declared that PSLV-C49 successfully placed EOS-01 as well as nine customer satellites ‘precisely’ into the 575 km circular orbit. The satellite started operating on its own functions and the satellite's solar panel was also successfully deployed. The satellite teams of EOS-01 and other nine satellites will take over from now on to carry out their missions, he told ISRO scientists from the mission control room.

"Today’s mission is very special and unusual for ISRO. The space activity cannot be done through Work From Home environment. However, in the Covid-19 pandemic, the team ISRO raised to the occasion and worked very carefully with limited staff. Today’s success is due to the hard work of team ISRO. They sacrificed their personal interests and worked hard for this mission. It is heartening to see that their hard work had paid off," he said.

On the forthcoming launches, Sivan said there are a series of missions planned in the near future. Immediately, there will be PSLV-C50 to launch satellite CMS-01, followed by the new vehicle SSLV - the first development flight - to launch the EOS - 02 and the GSLV-F10 launch of EOS - 03, he said.

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