ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 20 satellites on a single flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Launched aboard a PSLV-C34 rocket, the total weight of the satellites reached 1,288kg. During the PSLV family’s 36th flight, the PSLV-C34 carried a 727.5kg Cartosat-2 Series satellite and 19 co-passenger satellites.

At 16 minutes 30 seconds after liftoff, the satellites achieved a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit and in the succeeding 10 minutes, the 20 satellites were separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence.

Over the next few days, the Cartosat-2 series satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration, where it will start providing remote sensing services.

"Images sent by the satellite will be used for various cartographic, urban, and rural applications."

Images sent by the satellite will be used for various cartographic, urban, and rural applications, as well as for coastal land use regulation, and utility management purposes, such as road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps, and precision studies.

Out of the 19 co-passenger satellites, two known as Sathyabamasat and Swayam were built with the involvement of students from India’s Sathyabama University and the College Of Engineering.

Of the remaining 17 co-passenger satellites, two were owned by Canada, one by Germany, one by Indonesia, and 13 by the US.

The government of Canada stated that the Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Microsatellite (M3MSat) will help improve ship detection and marine traffic management in Canadian waters.

Image: PSLV-C34 launches 20 satellites in single flight. Photo: courtesy of ISRO.