The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch its commercial rocket carrying five foreign satellites with all the parameters before the launch progressing smoothly after the countdown.
“The countdown for the launch of rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) on Monday at 9:52 am is progressing smoothly”, a senior Isro official from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, said.
The 49-hour countdown for the rocket’s flight started on Saturday morning at SDSC, about 100 km from north Chennai.
“The propellant filling operation of Reaction Control Thrusters (RCT) of the first stage, in the four-stage core alone vehicle, was completed. Propellant filling operation of the fourth stage was also completed”, the official added.
This would be PSLV’s 27th flight when it would launch SPOT-7, a French Earth Observation Satellite into a 655km Sun Synchronous Orbit. PSLV-C23 will carry the 714 kg SPOT-7 as the main payload. Also, the 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg, and the seven kg VELOX-1 of Singapore are being carried as co-passengers.
The launch was re-scheduled to 9:52 am from 9:49 am owing to the probability of space debris getting in the way of the launch vehicle.
Modi in Chennai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to witness the rocket launch. This is the first space mission of the NDA government led by Modi.
Meanwhile, Modi landed in Chennai Airport en-route to India’s rocket port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The special aircraft in which Modi was travelling landed after a 40 minute delay owing to bad weather.
Modi was given a warm reception by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Pon Radhakrishnan.
Later, he left for Sriharikota in a helicopter to witness the launch of PSLV on Monday morning.
Isro Chairman K Radhakrihna gave a brief presentation on Indian Space Programme to Modi at SDSC.