ISRO Launches DRDO’s Observational Satellite EMISAT Along 28 Foreign Satellites Onboard PSLV-C45
- The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, on April 1, 2019, created a new history by launching India’s latest observation satellite EMISAT along with 28 other smaller international satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- The launch vehicle PSLV-C45, was used to carry the 29 payloads. It was the 47th mission of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- The 436 kg, electronic intelligence satellite, EMISAT, will be used for electromagnetic spectrum measurement and help military in locating hostile radars. Its devices have been developed by Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO.
Foreign Satellites
- The foreign satellites belonged from Lithuania (2), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and the United States (24).
- 20 of the US satellites are for earth observation and are known as Flock-4A, while other 4 payloads known as LEMUR are used for vessel automatic identification.
- Switzerland’s Astrocast-2 will be involved in studies of the cutting edge Internet-of-Things technology.
- Aistechsat-3 of Spain will be useful for remote asset management and aircraft tracking.
Various Firsts in EMISAT Mission
First mission of the PSLV in which its PSLV-QL (4 XL Strap-on motors) variant is being flown.
Earlier, the rocket used to be in “XL” version. (in QL version, the rocket is fitted with four longer versions of strap-on motors, while in XL, either zero, two or six strap-on motors were used).
First mission with multiple orbits involved.
PSLV carried three orbital missions in a single flight. PSLV-C45 successfully injected EMISAT in a 748-km orbit and 28 other satellites in a 504-km orbit.
PS4 serve as an experimental platform in space
The fourth stage engine, PS4, of the rocket was taken to a third orbit (485 km from earth) in space, where it will stay alive for next 6 months along with three scientific instruments to collect data and relay them to ground station.