Isro’s PSLV-C53

 

In its second successful mission within a week, ISRO launched three foreign satellites in precise orbit from the spaceport here on Thursday.

PSLV-C53 is the second dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. It had on June 23 launched GSAT-24 in its first "demand-driven" communication satellite mission post space sector reforms, leasing the entire capacity on board to Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider Tata Play.

On Thursday, the four-stage, 44.4 metre tall PSLV-C53 that blasted off from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre and placed the three Singapore satellites--DS-EO, NeuSAR and SCOOB-1 in intended orbit.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath confirmed that the mission achieved its intended objective, saying the rocket placed the three customer satellites "in the precise orbit of 570 km with a 10 degree inclination" and congratulated NSIL for accomplishing "yet another major mission this month itself," the earlier one being the GSAT launch last week.

"With today's mission, all these three satellites are placed in the right orbit," he said.

Mission Director SR Biju described the launch as "wonderful."

Earlier, the launch vehicle lifted off at 6.02 PM at the end of the 25-hour countdown.

This is the 55th mission of PSLV, often described as ISRO's trusted workhorse and the 15th one using the PSLV-Core Alone variant. It also marks the 16th PSLV launch from the second launch pad.