ISRO has successfully launched Brazil’s optical earth observation satellite, Amazonia-1, and 18 co-passenger satellites from the US and India on February 28. Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites, including 5 from India and 13 from the USA, were launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) at Sriharikota.
Key Points
- Amazonia belongs to the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and it weighs 637 kg.
- The satellites were carried onboard the PSLV-C51. It was the 53rd flight of India’s launch vehicle.
- It was the first dedicated mission for New Space India Ltd (NSIL). It is the commercial arm of ISRO.
- The mission was undertaken under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc., USA.
- Out of the 13 satellites from the U.S., one satellite was a technology demonstration satellite, and the rest of them were 2-way communications and data relay.
- Among the 5 Indian satellites, 1 satellite belongs to DRDO.
- Other Indian satellites were a nano-satellite, the Satish Dhawan SAT (SDSAT) built by Space Kidz India, and the UNITYsat, a combination of three satellites intended for providing radio relay services.
- The SDSAT has an engraving of PM Modi on the top panel of the satellite. The Bhagavad Gita was also sent on-board an SD card to give the scripture, which teaches oneness as the highest form of humanity, the highest honor.
- The UNITYsat was designed and built as a joint development by G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur; Jeppiar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.
How was the launch?
Around 16 minutes after lift-off, the PS-4 engine was cut-off and the Amazonia-1 was separated a minute later. The Amazonia-1 was injected into its precise orbit of 758 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.
Following that, the other 18 customer satellites were placed into their intended orbits. The entire operation of the mission took about 1 hour and 55 minutes to complete.
Amazonia-1 will strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and for analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
ISRO has 14 missions planned this year, including the first unmanned mission around the end of the year.
