The Indian Space Research Organisation made history once again by successfully launching PSLV-C37 Rocket with 104 satellites on-board there by creating a record of the most number of satellites in a single launch. This is the world record now.. This is yet another feather in the ISRO's cap, which has also launched the cheapest mission to MARS named Mangalyaan. The PSLV-C37 which was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota carried aboard the CARTOSAT-2Series satellite as well as 103 nano-satellites from various countries.
The PSLV-C37 took off at 09:20 AM IST ( 03:58 GMT ) on 15th FEbruary, 2017 and cruised at a speed of 27,000 Kms per hour ejecting all the 104 satellites into the orbit in 30 minutes time. The main payload of PSLV-C37 was 714 Kg satellite for earth observation and it was also loaded with 103 nano satellites weighing around 664 kilograms in total. Three of the nano satellites are from India and the others are from countries including Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from USA. Now India holds the record of launching the most number of satellites in one go, surpassing Russia which launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June, 2014.
The business of putting satellites into orbit for a fee is growing as phone, internet and other companies seek greater and more high-tech communications. ISRO is competing with other international players for a greater share of the space market and is well known for its low-cost space programme.
The two solar arrays of Cartosat-2Series satellite were deployed automatically immediately after separation and the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network at Bangalore took over the control of the satellite. The satellite will be made operational to its final configuration very soon and it will provide remote sensing services using its panchromatic ( black and white ) and multispectral ( color ) cameras. Out of the 103 satellites carried by PSLV-C37, two ISRO nano satellite-1 ( INS-1) weighing 8.4 Kg and INS-2 weighing 9.7 Kg are technology demonstration satellites from India. The remaining satellites are from other countries - USA ( 96), Netherlands ( 1), Switzerland ( 1), Israel (1), Kazakhistan (1) and UAE (1). With today's launch, the total number of customer satellites launched by India has reached 180.
The list of satellites 104 is given below...
CartoSat-2D – ISRO, India (1)
CartoSat-2D is fifth in the series of CartoSat-2 remote-sensing satellites that capture and
send panchromatic and multispectral images of India from space. These images can be used
to monitor the coastal land use, urban and rural planning, road networks and water distribution
, and to identify natural and man-made features. Weighing 714 kilograms, ISRO’s CartoSat-2D
is the heaviest satellite onboard the PSLV-C37 and accounts for more than half the 1,377
kilogram payload of the rocket.
CartoSat-2D is fifth in the series of CartoSat-2 remote-sensing satellites that capture and
send panchromatic and multispectral images of India from space. These images can be used
to monitor the coastal land use, urban and rural planning, road networks and water distribution
, and to identify natural and man-made features. Weighing 714 kilograms, ISRO’s CartoSat-2D
is the heaviest satellite onboard the PSLV-C37 and accounts for more than half the 1,377
kilogram payload of the rocket.
INS-1A – ISRO, India (1)
ISRO Nano Satellite-1A is an 8.4-kilogram research satellite that will stay operational for six
months, and carry two science payloads. One is the Surface BRDF Radiometer (SBR) payload
that can be used measure the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of targets
on the Earth's surface and will be able to take readings of the sunlight reflected off different
surface features. The other is the Single Event Upset Monitor (SEUM), which can be used to
track Single Event Upsets that happen due to high energy radiation in space environment in
Commercial, Off-the-Shelf (COTS) electronic components.
ISRO Nano Satellite-1A is an 8.4-kilogram research satellite that will stay operational for six
months, and carry two science payloads. One is the Surface BRDF Radiometer (SBR) payload
that can be used measure the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of targets
on the Earth's surface and will be able to take readings of the sunlight reflected off different
surface features. The other is the Single Event Upset Monitor (SEUM), which can be used to
track Single Event Upsets that happen due to high energy radiation in space environment in
Commercial, Off-the-Shelf (COTS) electronic components.
INS-1B – ISRO, India (1)
ISRO Nano Satellite-1B aboard the new PSLV-C37 rocket is also a modular satellite similar to
the INS-1B, but weighs 9.7 kilogram. It is expected to remain operational for 6-12 months and
also carries two science payloads: the Earth Exosphere Lyman Alpha Analyser (EELA) and
Origami Camera payload from ISRO's Space Application Centre (SAC). EELA keeps track of
terrestrial exospheric line-of-sight neutral atomic hydrogen Lyman Alpha flux and can give an
estimate for the interplanetary hydrogen Lyman Alpha background flux by means of deep
space observations. The Origami Camera, on the other hand, is a remote sensing colour
camera that can take high-resolution pictures of the Earth with a small package.
ISRO Nano Satellite-1B aboard the new PSLV-C37 rocket is also a modular satellite similar to
the INS-1B, but weighs 9.7 kilogram. It is expected to remain operational for 6-12 months and
also carries two science payloads: the Earth Exosphere Lyman Alpha Analyser (EELA) and
Origami Camera payload from ISRO's Space Application Centre (SAC). EELA keeps track of
terrestrial exospheric line-of-sight neutral atomic hydrogen Lyman Alpha flux and can give an
estimate for the interplanetary hydrogen Lyman Alpha background flux by means of deep
space observations. The Origami Camera, on the other hand, is a remote sensing colour
camera that can take high-resolution pictures of the Earth with a small package.
Flock-3p – Plant Labs, United States of America (88)
ISRO’s PSLV-C37 will take Planet Labs’ 88 Flock-3p nano-satellites to space, bringing the total
number of Dove satellites in space to 100. The satellites will be able to capture images of the
entire Earth surface once a day and take pictures in line-scanner formation at mid-morning
pass times to minimise shadows in the images they capture.
ISRO’s PSLV-C37 will take Planet Labs’ 88 Flock-3p nano-satellites to space, bringing the total
number of Dove satellites in space to 100. The satellites will be able to capture images of the
entire Earth surface once a day and take pictures in line-scanner formation at mid-morning
pass times to minimise shadows in the images they capture.
Lemur-2 – Spire Global, United States of America (8)
Eight Lemur-2 nano-satellites operated by Spire Global of the USA, each of which carries a
meteorological payload that can determine the atmospheric pressure, humidity and temp-
erature using signals from GPS satellites in Earth’s atmosphere. These nano-satellites also
carry a payload that allows them to monitor and send forward tracking data from seafaring
vessels.
Eight Lemur-2 nano-satellites operated by Spire Global of the USA, each of which carries a
meteorological payload that can determine the atmospheric pressure, humidity and temp-
erature using signals from GPS satellites in Earth’s atmosphere. These nano-satellites also
carry a payload that allows them to monitor and send forward tracking data from seafaring
vessels.
Al-Farabi-1 – Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan (1)
The Al-Farabi-1 is a nano-satellite developed by students of the Kazakhstan’s Al-Farabi
Kazakh National University. It weighs 1.7 kilograms and will work on calculating uplink /
downlink and ADCS Mission algorithms and testing of self-made components.
The Al-Farabi-1 is a nano-satellite developed by students of the Kazakhstan’s Al-Farabi
Kazakh National University. It weighs 1.7 kilograms and will work on calculating uplink /
downlink and ADCS Mission algorithms and testing of self-made components.
BGUSat – Ben Gurion University, Israel (1)
A 3U CubeSat nano-satellite developed by Israel’s Ben Gurion University, BGUSat carries
two imaging payloads, an experimental GPS receiver and an optical communication expe-
riment. It measures 10x10x30 centimetres and weighs 5 kilograms. The BGUSat’s cameras
can track climate phenomena and its guidance system enables the operators choose the
areas to shoot and research through a dedicated ground station at BGU.
A 3U CubeSat nano-satellite developed by Israel’s Ben Gurion University, BGUSat carries
two imaging payloads, an experimental GPS receiver and an optical communication expe-
riment. It measures 10x10x30 centimetres and weighs 5 kilograms. The BGUSat’s cameras
can track climate phenomena and its guidance system enables the operators choose the
areas to shoot and research through a dedicated ground station at BGU.
Nayif-1 – Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), UAE (1)
Students at UAE’s Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) deve-
loped the Nayif-1 nano-satellite and will be used for educational purposes.
Students at UAE’s Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) deve-
loped the Nayif-1 nano-satellite and will be used for educational purposes.
DIDO-2 – SpacePharma, Israel and Switzerland (1)
DIDO-2 is a microgravity research nano-satellite that can be used to conduct biochemical
and physical experiments in micro-gravity. It will serve pharmaceutical companies, as well as
other organisations, and will be able to send back data to Earth-based researchers via the
on-board microscope.
DIDO-2 is a microgravity research nano-satellite that can be used to conduct biochemical
and physical experiments in micro-gravity. It will serve pharmaceutical companies, as well as
other organisations, and will be able to send back data to Earth-based researchers via the
on-board microscope.
PEASS – PEASS Consortium, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Israel (1)
PiezoElectric Assisted Smart Satellite Structure or PEASS is a nano-satellite that can be
used to evaluate and qualify ‘smart structures’ which combine composite panels, piezo-
electric materials, and next-generation sensors.
PiezoElectric Assisted Smart Satellite Structure or PEASS is a nano-satellite that can be
used to evaluate and qualify ‘smart structures’ which combine composite panels, piezo-
electric materials, and next-generation sensors.
The launch video is shown below..
Here is a video of the onboard camera where we can see all the events till seperation of all the satellites.
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