• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

PSLV-C3 launches three satellites

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Oct. 22

THE ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C3, today successfully launched three satellites into orbit. Apart from the Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) of the Indian Space Research Organisation, the launch vehicle also placed into orbit the BIR D satellite of Germany and the PROBA satellite of Belgium.

This is the second time that the PSLV launched three satellites simultaneously; in the previous launch in May 1999, the PSLV launched India's IRS-P4 along with German DLR and Korean KITSAT-3, according to an ISRO press release.

The PSLV-C3 lifted off from the Sriharikota base at 10.23 a.m. The first satellite to be ejected into orbit was the TES at a height of 572 km after 970 seconds from lift-off. About 40 seconds later, the BIRD (Bispectral and Infrared Remote Detection) sat ellite was placed into orbit.

Subsequently, the fourth stage reaction control thrusters of PSLV were fired to raise the orbit of the equipment bay along with the third satellite, PROBA (Project for On-Board Autonomy), to a height of 590 km before the satellite was ejected.

``The satellites were ejected after suitable reorientation of the equipment bay to avoid any collision between the satellites and the fourth stage-equipment bay combination. All the three satellites have been placed in their intended polar sun-synchronou s orbits,'' the release said.

Addressing a press conference here in the evening, the ISRO Chairman, Dr K. Kasturirangan, said this was the first time ISRO was launching satellites in multi-orbits. While the TES and BIRD were placed in a 568 km sun-synchronous orbit, the PROBA was pla ced in 568 x 638 km elliptical orbit. The ISRO was able to achieve more precision than was specified.

He said that for the first time, ISRO had injected a satellite with advanced technology for earth imaging. The TES also had an advanced camera for remote-sensing. The satellite was capable of a one-metre resolution, while the earlier satellites could pro vide a five-metre resolution. He was also happy with the multi-orbit launch achievement as it called for re-manouevring of the launch vehicle.

The ISRO Chairman said that on the whole, the mission was satisfactory, and the monitoring of the TES was going on satisfactorily. The solar panel had been deployed and the satellite's power system was functioning. Other sub-systems were normal. The TES was now in the earth orientation mode.

To repeated questions on whether the TES could be used for defence applications, Dr Kasturirangan said it could be used for various purposes. Since the satellite had a one-metre resolution for earth observation, it was among the best and it had a wide ra nge of utility. Hence, its usage was left to one's imagination.

He said the TES was an experimental satellite, with a life span of three years, which ISRO would use to evaluate the technology that has gone into it. The German and Belgian satellites were launched under commercial agreements entered into by the Antrix Corporation, the commercial agency under the Department of Space.

According to the release, the TES, weighing 1,108 kg, is an experimental satellite to demonstrate and validate in orbit, technologies that could be used in future satellites. Some of the technologies that are planned to be demonstrated in the TES are att itude and orbit control system, high-torque reaction wheels, new reaction control system employing optimised thrusters and a single propellant tank.

The PROBA, weighing 94 kg, carries high-resolution spectrometer as the primary payload. It also has a payload for evaluating debris in the orbit besides a high resolution camera. The BIRD, weighing 92 kg, is intended for testing small satellite technolog ies and a new generation of infrared sensors for the detection of hot spots like forest fires and volcanoes.

Pic.: Mission accomplished: The ISRO Chairman, Dr K. Kasturirangan (left), and the PSLV-C3 Mission Director, Mr S. Ramakrishnan, at a press conference in Chennai on Monday to announce the successful launch of the satellite vehicle from Sriharikota earlie r in the morning.

Picture by Bijoy Ghosh