Isro’s PSLV-C54 Places Earth Observation Satellite EOS-06, Eight Nanosatellites In Orbits

Nov 26, 2022

PSLV-C54 lifts off from Sriharikota spaceport on Saturday. Photo by C Suresh Kumar

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully placed earth observation satellite EOS-06 and eight nanosatellites in multi-orbits 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 PSLVC54 was EOS-06. The 1117kg earth observation satellite was built by UR Rao Satellite Centre, Isro. The nanosatellites included 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, PSLV-C54 travelled around the earth in less than an hour and placed eight nanosatellites in their orbits. The nanosatellites included two Thybolt satellites, communication payloads made by Dhruva Space to enable rapid technology demonstration and constellation development for multiple users.

It was followed by INS-2B satellite (India-Bhutan Sat) which was be injected into a 528.8km altitude. The Isro nanosatellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B) has two payloads including NanoMx, a multispectral optical imaging payload developed by Space Applications Centre.

Courtesy: TOI