PSLV-C56 places seven Singapore satellites into orbit

CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully placed seven Singapore satellites including DS-SAR, a radar imaging earth observation satellite, into a desired orbit early morning on Sunday. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) placed these satellites to a 535km circular orbit before the rocket’s upper stage was deorbited to a low earth circular orbit to reduce its orbital life.

Around 21 minutes after PSLV lifted off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the rocket placed its primary payload DS-SAR. In the next three minutes, the other six satellites – Velox-AM, Arcade, Scoob-II, NuLIoN, Galassia-2 and Orb-12 Strider – were injected into orbit.
After the rocket injected all the satellites, its fourth stage was placed in a 300km low earth circular orbit using leftover propellants to ensure its reduced orbital life. The mission was PSLV’s 58th flight. It was also the rocket’s 17th flight in core alone configuration.
DS-SAR satellite, developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering, carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). This allows the DS-SAR to provide all-weather day and night coverage, and capable of imaging at 1m-resolution at full polarimetry.
The satellite will be used to support the imagery requirements of various agencies of the Government of Singapore. ST Engineering will use it for multi-modal and higher responsiveness imagery and geospatial services for their commercial customers.
Velox-AM is a 23 kg technology demonstration microsatellite, Arcade- Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer, an experimental satellite, Scoob-II is a 3U nanosatellite flying a technology demonstrator payload, NuLIoN by NuSpace, an advanced 3U nanosatellite enabling seamless IoT connectivity in both urban & remote locations, Galassia-2, a 3U nanosatellite that will be orbiting at low earth orbit and Orb-12 Strider, satellite is developed under an International collaboration.
Isro chairman S Somanath said the mission achieved a “very perfect orbit” and in the next one and a half hours the PS4 (upper stage) will be moved into a 300 km orbit to give it a lower life span thereby mitigating space debris.
“We will have another PSLV mission in early September,” he said. The Isro chairman also said that a fully industry owned PSLV will be flown from early next year. On the upcoming missions, Somnath said that “Gaganyaan test vehicle is being integrated, SSLV will be flown on its third developmental flight and GSLV will launch INSAT-3DS.”
Watch Isro’s PSLV rocket carrying 7 Singaporean satellites lifts off from Sriharikota