The recent noteworthy event of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C48) marking its 50th launch has made headlines, as it successfully injected India’s advanced radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 into orbit. Accompanying this monumental mission were nine other customer satellites from Japan, Italy, Israel, and the U.S.A. which were also launched into their respective orbits. This marked the 75th launch vehicle mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Highlight on the RISAT-2BR1 Satellite
The main spotlight of this mission, the RISAT-2BR1, weighs a substantial 628 kg and has been placed into a 576-km orbit at an inclination of 37 degrees. This satellite is the second one in the RISAT-2B series and along with CARTOSAT-3, forms a part of what is known as ‘spy’ satellites. These satellites serve a crucial role in border control by allowing round-the-clock surveillance across national boundaries.
With a projected lifespan of five years, the RISAT-2BR1 is anticipated to strengthen India’s border monitoring abilities and provide valuable assistance in disaster management, agriculture, and forest cover tracking. It is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a cutting-edge technology that enables capture of images of the earth during both day and night, regardless of cloud conditions.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is India’s third-generation launch vehicle. Designed with a four-stage structure, the PSLV alternates between solid rocket motors for its first and third stages, and liquid rocket engines for its second and fourth stages. This makes it the first Indian launch vehicle to incorporate liquid stages.
Initially, the PSLV had a carrying capacity of 850 kg, which has been significantly enhanced to now accommodate up to 1.9 tonnes. This upgrade has played a significant role in advancing India’s space exploration capabilities.
| Initial Capacity | Current Capacity |
|---|---|
| 850 kg | 1.9 tonnes |
The PSLV is capable of launching payloads into almost all the orbits, including the Geo-Stationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), not to mention far off extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon, Mars and soon, the Sun. From 1994 to 2019, the PSLV successfully launched 50 Indian satellites and 222 foreign satellites, serving over 70 international customers from 20 countries.
The PSLV boasts a record of successful launches, playing a crucial role in the deployment of iconic missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission(MOM) and the space recovery mission, among others. Despite its success, the PSLV has had two noted failures in its history — the maiden flight of the PSLV D1 in 1993 and the PSLV C-39 in 2017.
The Role of PSLV in Space Exploration
It’s worth highlighting that the PSLV has been instrumental in propelling India’s foray into space. Its role in several pioneering missions validates its contribution to the advancement of space exploration and technology. The PSLV continues to evolve, improving its capabilities and setting new records with each mission, thus underlining India’s position as a force to be reckoned with in the realm of space science.
