Context: The vehicle, carrying an earth observation satellite and 15 ‘co-passengers’ developed by Indian and overseas customers, is set to lift off at 10.17 a.m today; it is the 105th launch from Sriharikota.
- The 22.5-hour countdown to the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), carrying an earth observation satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites, commenced at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Sunday.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission at 10.17 a.m. on Monday from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This will be the 105th launch from Sriharikota. It will also be the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the fifth mission of the PSLV-DL variant.
- The 15 co-passenger satellites have been developed by start-ups and academic institutions from India and abroad. The EOS-N1 satellite is said to have been built for strategic purposes.
- “It is a commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). EOS-N1 and 14 co-passenger satellites will be injected into a Sun Synchronous Orbit and KID Capsule into a re-entry trajectory,” the ISRO said.
- It added that after the injection of EOS-N1 and 14 satellites, the PS4 stage will be re-started to de-boost and enter a re-entry trajectory, followed by KID Capsule separation. “Both PS4 stage and KID Capsule will re-enter into Earth’s Atmosphere and impact will be in the South Pacific Ocean,” the ISRO said.
- The 15 co-passengers are: Theos-2 earth observation satellite built jointly by Thailand and the U.K.; CGUSAT by Dhruva Space (India); DSUSAT by Dhruva Space; MOI-1 by Dhruva Space and Takeme2Space (India); LACHIT by Dhruva Space and and Don Bosco University (India); Thybolt-3 by Dhruva Space; Munal by Nepal university Antharkshya Pratishtan (Nepal) and MEA, GoI; KID Capsule by Orbital Paradigm (Spain) and RIDE! (France); Edusat by AlltoSpace (Brazil); Uaisat by AlltoSpace; Galaxy Explorer by AlltoSpace; Orbital Temple by AlltoSpace; Aldebaran-1 by AlltoSpace; Sanskarsat by Laxman Gyanpith (India); and AyulSat by OrbitAid (India).