Communication Satellite CMS-01 to be launched by ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the communication satellite CMS-01 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C50. This is the 42nd Communication Satellite of India and it will be launched on December 17, 2020.

Highlights

• This mission is the 52nd mission of PSLV.
• It is also the 22nd flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration having 6 strap-on motors.
• This launch vehicle will take its flight from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• The communication satellite would be the 77th launch vehicle mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

CMS-01

CMS-01 is the 42nd Communication Satellite of India.  The satellite provides the services in the  Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum. The Extended-C Band coverage includes the Indian mainland, Lakshadweep Island and Andaman & Nicobar islands.  It was formerly known as GSAT-12R. The satellite has been  designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It will replace the aged satellite GSAT-12. The satellite will be same as the equipment load of GSAT-12 with some advanced variants.

Function

The satellite would provide services including the Satellite Internet access, disaster management support, tele-medicine and  tele-education.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

PSLV is an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle. It has been designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was developed so that India could launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun-synchronous orbits.  PSLV also launch the small size satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Some of the PSLV include India’s first space observatory called Astrosat, India’s first lunar mission called Chandrayaan-1, India’s first interplanetary mission called the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).