Space Research Organization's PSLV-C49 after almost a year
of silence, successfully leaving Saturday afternoon from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
On its 51st flight, the rocket carried an EOS-01 all-weather
Earth imaging satellite, formerly known as RISAT-2BR2, and nine international satellites.
The launch vehicle successfully injected its primary payload, EOS-01,
into a low-earth orbit more than 15 minutes after liftoff.
It was accompanied by
nine satellites from the client.
EOS-01 was carrying
a synthetic-aperture radar X-band.
The space agency has confirmed that EOS-01 is an earth observation
satellite intended for agricultural , forestry and disaster management support applications.
Isro chairman K Sivan said after the mission 's success that
this was a very "unique and unusual mission" for the space agency.
Space operation is
not possible from home.
Every engineer, technician and all other employees must come from different
centres and work together here at SHAR, especially during a launch.
Also, from different centres, various
hardware had to be carefully transported.
Our Isro team rose to the challenge, worked with
limited workers and followed all government procedures with limited resources.
Including the PSLV-C50 carrying CMS01, the launch of the latest SSLV vehicle carrying EOS-02,
and the GSLV F-10 carrying EOS-03, Sivan said three more launches are lined up.
9 other satellites that
have been placed in orbit
Global satellites include the Lithuanian R2 satellite, which was a research demonstration, four Luxembourg Kleos
(KSM-1A/1B/1C/1D) satellites for maritime applications and four US Lemur (Lemur-1/2/3/4) satellites for multi-mission remote sensing.
Including the PSLV-C50 carrying CMS01, the launch of the latest SSLV vehicle carrying
EOS-02 and the GSLV F-10 carrying EOS-03, three more launches are lined up.
The launch on Saturday was Isro's first
launch since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted its timetable.
It was the 76th launch vehicle mission from the Sriharikota spaceport, the 38th launch from the
first launch pad and the second PSLV flight with two strap-on boosters carrying the 'DL' version.
