Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday set a new record by launching 20 satellites, including India’s Cartosat-2 series and those the US, Germany Canada and Indonesia. At 9:26 a.m., ISRO workhorse PSLVC-34 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located at Sriharikota. And at 9:51 ISRO declared the mission successful.
The vehicle will not just put 20 satellites into the same orbit, but will also perform two tricky experiments of the same nature. According to the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, K. Sivan Director said, “Fifty minutes after the satellites are injected into the orbit from the fourth stage of the vehicle, its engine will be re-ignited for five seconds. Then it will be shut down for 50 minutes and re-ignited for another five seconds.” The total weight of these satellites, according to ISRO, is about 1,288 kg.
Features of the Cartostat-2 Series satellite:
*Satellite Mass is 727.5 kg
*Orbit type is Circular Polar Sun Synchronous
*Orbit Height is 505 kms
*Local time of equator crossing will be 9:30 am
*The design life is 5 years
