GS-3
PSLV-C51/AMAZONIA-1 MISSION
PM congratulates NSIL and ISRO on the success of the 1st dedicated commercial launch of PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 Mission.
Important points:
- India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51 successfully launched Amazonia-1 along with 18 co-passenger satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
- PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO.
- PSLV-C51 is the 53rd flight of PSLV and the 3rd flight of PSLV in ‘DL’ configuration (with 2 strap-on motors).
- With today’s launch, the total number of customer satellites from foreign countries placed in orbit by PSLV is 342 satellites from 34 countries.
- Amazonia-1 is a Brazilian satellite weighing 637 kg.
- It is an optical earth observation satellite and the primary payload of PSLV-C51.
- This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
- The 18 ‘co-passengers’ include four of IN-SPACe and 14 of NSIL.
- The IN-SPACe satellites include three UNITYsats from a consortium of Indian academic institutes and one Satish Dhawan unit from Space Kidz India, which will study space radiation, among other things.
- It also includes an engraved picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi symbolising his Atmanirbhar initiative and space privatisation.
- An e-copy of the Bhagavad Gita, saved on an SD-card, is also part of the package according to Space Kidz.
SOURCE:THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES