ISRO sets record, launches PSLV-C34 with 20 satellites

Today (Wednesday, 22-June) marked another landmark day for ISRO, launching PSLV C-34 carrying 20 satellites into the space. This also happened to be the 34th successful launch of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) in a row. The PSLV rocket has launched over 110 satellites, including 57 from international customers.

Every launch of PSLV comes with specific challenges that require innovative technical solutions.

PSLV-C34 posed two major challenges: It had to launch a record number of satellites — i.e. 20. Second, the primary satellite was Cartosat-2 weighing 727.5kg had to launch in a polar sun synchronous orbit (SSO), while 19 other satellites together weighing 560kg had to be launched in another orbit. This was the technological challenge that scientists successfully met in this mission.

Cartosat 2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite developed by India. The images sent by this satellite will be useful for cartographic, urban and rural applications, road network monitoring, water distribution, and other Geographical Information System (LIS & GIS).

The co-passenger satellites came from the US (13), Canada (2), Germany and Indonesia (one each), besides the 2 nano satellites from Indian academic institutions (Satyabama University and College of Engineering, Pune)

ref:

http://www.firstpost.com/india/isro-satellite-launch-success-has-become-a-way-of-life-at-indias-space-agency-2849258.html

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/big-boost-to-indias-space-mission-isro-sets-record-launches-pslv-c34-with-20-satellites/articleshow/52861909.cms

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