Isro’s PSLV-C54 places earth observation satellite EOS-06 in orbit; mission continues | India News

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully placed earth observation satellite EOS-06 in its orbit on Saturday.
Isro’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off from the first launch pad at Sriharikota spaceport at 11.56am in a two-hour multi-orbit launch mission. The primary payload onboard PSLV-C54 was the EOS-06. The 1117kg earth observation satellite was built by UR Rao Satellite Centre, Isro. The others onboard PSLV are eight nano satellites, including India’s first privately built earth observation satellite Anand.

Around 17.17 minutes after lift-off, the rocket’s fourth stage injected EOS-06 (Oceansat-3) into a 742.7km orbit. EOS-06 is a third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series. This is to provide continuity services of Oceansat-2 spacecraft with enhanced payload specifications as well as application areas. The payloads in the satellite include ocean colour monitor, sea surface temperature monitor, Ku-band scatterometer and Argos.
After placing EOS-06 in orbit, rocket’s PS4 would change orbits to a 516km sun synchronous polar orbit to place the rest of the satellites in the next one hour. The satellites include two Thybolt satellites, communication payloads made by Dhruva Space to enable rapid technology demonstration and constellation development for multiple users.
It is followed by INS-2B satellite (India-Bhutan Sat) which would be injected into a 528.8km altitude. The Isro nano satellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B) has two payloads including NanoMx, a multispectral optical imaging payload developed by Space Applications Centre.
The rocket would place Anand nano satellite in a low earth orbit. The satellite is built by Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel. It is technology demonstrator to demonstrate the capabilities and commercial applications of miniaturized earth-observation camera for earth observation using a microsatellite.

Four nano satellites from US firm Spaceflight would also be injected into orbit. The satellites are a technology demonstrator for the Internet of Things as the payload.
Saturday’s mission is PSLV’s 56th flight and 24th flight of PSLV-XL version with six XL boosters.
“It’s the first phase of the mission. Performance of all stages and functions were exceedingly good. The satellite has also deployed solar panels very correctly. Mission is still not completed. We are waiting for PS4 to change orbit. It will go around the earth. Our team will monitor from the ground station,” Isro chairman S Somanath said.
Mission director S R Biju said, “PSLV never fails to deliver. It is all because of team Isro who always deliver. We are waiting impatiently to complete the mission.”