Isro launches Singapore satellites

PSLV-C29 takes off from Sriharikota, places six satellites in orbit

Scripting another new chapter in its space technology, India, on Wednesday launched PSLV-C29 rocket carrying six Singapore satellites from the country's space port of Sriharikota near here.

The 44.4-metre tall PSLV-C29, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro’s) most trusted rocket and workhorse launch flight, weighing 620 kg took off precisely at 6 pm from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), about 90 km north of Chennai.

This is the thirty-second flight of PSLV, which is to place all the satellites including TeLEOS-1, the primary one weighing 400 kg, into a 550-km circular orbit inclined at 15 degrees to the equator.

Isro scientists including its Chairman A S Kiran Kumar at the mission control centre were jubilant and shook hands each other when the rocket successfully placed the satellites into the required orbit.

"I Congratulate the team on  the wonderful job they have done", Kiran Kumar said soon after the satellites was placed in the orbit.

He also pointed out that when Singapore is celebrating 50th year, Isro, which is also launching its 50th mission, has put six of its satellite into the orbit.

According to the Isro officials, along with TeLEOS-1, two micro-satellites and three nano-satellites were also part of the package.

This is the eleventh flight of PSLV in "core-alone" configuration that will not use the solid strap-on motors.

The official said the TeLEOS-1 is the first Singapore commercial earth observation satellite designed and developed by ST Electronics.

 This electro-optical satellite is to be launched into a low earth orbit. It is to be done for  remote sensing applications. In 2015 Isro has launched 14 satellites (3 Indian and 11 foreign) from its rocket port in Sriharikota till date. 

Thirteen satellites were launched with PSLV rocket and one communication satellite–GSAT-6-with geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV). Last month India also launched its communication satellite GSAT-15 using the Ariane rocket of the European space agency which takes the total number of satellite launches in 2015 to 21 (17 foreign, 4 Indian).