1. METSAT-1 ( Kalpana-1)
2. CARTOSAT-1
3. CHANDRAYAAN-1
4. RISAT-1
Ans : 4
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (Hindi: ध्रुवीय उपग्रह प्रक्षेपण यान), commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that was, until the advent of the PSLV, commercially viable only from Russia. PSLV can also launch small size satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The PSLV has launched 52 satellites (26 Indian satellites and 26 foreign satellites) into a variety of orbits to date.
PSLV costs 17 million USD flyaway cost for each launch.
Sriharikota, April 26:
India’s reliable workhorse, the PSLV rocket, today accomplished its
mission of putting RISAT-1 — the country’s first microwave imaging
satellite — into its designated orbit.
This was for the 21st consecutive time (and 20th successful) that a PSLV
rocket has taken a satellite, but today’s launch was different than the
rest for two reasons.
First, the 1,850 kg RISAT-1 was the heaviest satellite to be carried by a
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Second, today’s event distinguishes
itself in terms of the sophistication of equipment on board the
satellite.
New technology
Unlike the conventional optical camera, the microwave image sensing
technology can take pictures of the earth surfaces day and night, at all
weather conditions (even through the clouds).
Soon after the launch, scientists at the Sriharikota satellite launch
centre here described the satellite as a happy culmination of years of
effort and a giant leap in India’s science and technology prowess.
The satellite was today injected at a point 480 km above the earth. Over
the next three days, it will be nudged into its orbit at 536 km above
the earth, where it will circle the planet over the poles, cutting the
equator at an angle of 97.5 degrees.
The satellite will circle the earth 14 times a day. Its primary use is
said to be crop prediction, but it is basically a camera up there and as
such can be used to take pictures for any purpose.
21st PSLV launch
The PSLV-C19 was the 21st PSLV launch — including the one that was used
to carry GSAT-12 and the other that carried the Chandrayaan-1.
Like those two, the PSLV-C19 was also the ‘heavy version’ of the PSLV
family, with six strap on rockets. At lift-off at 5.47 am today, the
PSLV-C19 stood 44.5 metres tall and weighed 321 tonnes.
The satellite cost Rs 378 crore, and the rocket, Rs 110 crore, making the mission worth Rs 488 crore.
More launches
Later, addressing a press conference, the Chairman of Indian Space
Research Organisation, Dr K. Radhakrishnan, said that ISRO planned at
least three more satellite launches from Sriharikota.
The next would be another PSLV flight in August, when the rocket could
carry six satellites. Later, around October, ISRO will attempt a launch
of a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket with an India-made
cryogenic engine.
GSLV rocket
A GSLV with an indigenous cryo engine has not been successful so far,
but Dr Radhakrishnan said that a lot of learnings from the previous
failed launches have been taken into account.
This GSLV rocket will carry the GSAT-14 satellite, with twelve
transponders and a ka band beacon. If successful, these transponders
will add to the existing 208 that India has. Later in the financial year
2012-13, there will be another launch of a PSLV.
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