PSLV-C35 to place 8 satellites into two different orbits for the first time in ISRO's next big launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced another big launch for September 26. In a historical launch by the Indian space mission, no less than 8 satellites, including SCATSAT-1 and one made by the students of IIT-Bombay, will be launched through its PSLV-C35 rocket into polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

The SCATSAT-1 will carry out ocean and weather related studies, while the seven other will be co-passenger satellites. According to ISRO, it will be the 37th flight for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Time, date and place of launch?

ISRO’s PSLV-C35 will carry the SCATSAT-1 and co-passenger satellites at 9:12 hours (IST) on Monday, September 26 from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Other satellites:

The Co-passenger satellites belong to Algeria, Canada and USA, while two come from Indian universities. The PSLV-C35 will inject the 377 kg SCATSAT-1 satellite into a 720 km Polar SSO, while it will place the five foreign satellites and two satellites from the Indian universities into a 670 km polar orbit.

Continuity mission for Oceansat-2 Scatterometer

ISRO has said that the SCATSAT-1 is a continuity mission for Oceansat-2 Scatterometer. It aims at providing wind vector data products for weather forecasting,  cyclone detection and tracking services to the users. The SCATSAT-1 carries Ku-band scatterometer which is similar to the one onboard the Oceansat-2.

In this mission, the PSLV will launch its payloads into two different orbits for the first time.

INSAT-3DR launch

On September 8, ISRO had successfully launched an advanced weather satellite called the INSAT-3DR. The satellite is equipped with modern instruments and can study weather patterns. It is also aimed at helping in the surface-level search and rescue operations.ISRO had on September 15 released the first images of Earth captured by the INSAT-3DR satellite.

Why ISRO’s September 26 launch is historical?

There are three reasons that make this ISRO’s launch historical. First, the students of IIT-Bombay have designed and developed a satellite named Pratham. This will be the first time that a satellite built by IIT-Bombay students will be launched.  Second, this big launch comes only 18 days after ISRO’s successful launch of a weather satellite, Insat-3DR, and another one – ScatSat-1 – will be pushed in orbit for the first time.

Third reason is that it will be for the first time in its history of 23 years that the PSLV will be launching satellites into two different orbits in single mission.