YearEnder2017: From ISRO's 'Bahubali' 104 satellite launch to heaviest rocket GSLV MKIII-D1

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) created a new world record by launching as many as 104 satellites under the much-awaited single mission this year on February 15. This was ISRO's path-breaking move was very crucial for India. Also, India's heaviest rocket GSLV MKIII-D1 carrying communication satellite GSAT-19 launched from Sriharikota. After all these record, ISRO has revealed that from 2018 one rocket will be launched every month from its spaceport, Sriharikota.

Achievements of ISRO in 2017:

# GSLV MKIII launch

India's heaviest rocket GSLV MKIII-D1 carrying communication satellite GSAT-19 launched from Sriharikota on Monday. Soon, after its lift-off, it was claimed that the launch of ISRO GSLV Mark III carrying GSAT-19 communication satellite was successful.

# GSAT-17

India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was successfully launched by a heavy-duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.

Configured around I-3K extended bus, GSAT-17 with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg carries payloads in Normal C-band, Extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services.

It also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite-based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites.

# PSLV-C38 carrying 31 Satellites in a Single Flight

The PSLV-C38 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) was a 995-kilogram rocket that comprised 31 satellites from countries like the US, UK and Germany.

Apart from cartographic applications, the satellite is also being used for monitoring roads and keeping track of water distribution.

Post this launch, the total number of Indian satellites launched by PSLV stands at 48.

# GSLV-F09:

On 5^th February 2017, the GSLV-F09 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) took flight from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.

The GSLV-F09’s main objective is to establish a smooth communication network amongst the South Asian nations by providing them with applications in Ku-band, which gives them a higher frequency range to communicate in. This will enable telecommunication, tele-education and tele-medicine, as well as mapping of natural resources.

Predicting weather forecasts, land monitoring, and quick response to natural disasters are some of the other benefits of the satellite.

# Record-breaking launch of 104 satellites

The world watched when Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO launched record number of 104 satellites using single rocket last month. And now, the space agency is preparing to add another feather in its cap by launching two GSLVs this year.

ISRO on February 15 successfully launched a record number of 104 satellites under a single mission from the spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

With the launch of over 100 satellites, India has now broken the record of Russia, which previously accomplished the feat of launching record number of satellites at 37, followed by the US space agency NASA, which has launched 29.

ISRO’s achievement in 2016:

# Resourcesat-2A 

The 36-hour countdown for the launch of PSLV-C36 carrying Resourcesat-2A began in December. After the launch ISRO said that Mono Methyl Hydrazine (MMH) fuel and Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) oxidiser filling operations of the fourth stage (PS4) of PSLV-C36 are completed.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched PSLV-C36 carrying Resourcesat-2A successfully at 10:25 hours from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. 

# GSAT-18 

The launch of India's latest communication satellite with 48 transponders that receive and transmit communication signals has been launched on October 6 from Kourou in French Guiana. 

The Indian satellite GSAT-18 was launched at 2am on October 6, 24 hours after its initial launch time. The 3,404 kg Indian satellite GSAT-18 will be providing services in normal C-band, upper extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum. 

# INSAT-3DR on-board GSLV-F05 

ISRO on September 8 successfully launched its advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR on-board GSLV-F05 from the second launch pad at the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 110 km from Chennai. 

In April 2001, the first test flight of the GSLV with a cryogenic upper took place, however, it failed. After that, the rocket made eight flights over the past 14 years. Out of 14, five had a Russian cryogenic engine, while three others were powered by the indigenously developed ones. Three turned out to be successful, while four failed and one achieved partial success. The first successful test flight with a Russian engine took place in May 2003. First successful test flight using an indigenous engine happened in January 2014.

In 1986, ISRO made plans to develop a cryogenic engine to be used in rockets. ISRO received offers to develop engines from three different entities – US, Soviet Union and France. The space agency accepted an offer from a company named Glavkosmos in the erstwhile Soviet Union as the other two were not affordable.

# PSLV C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission

Indian Space Research Organisation launched record 20 satellites, including India's Cartosat-2 series, from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh in July 2016. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-34 (PSLV) carried 17 foreign satellites from Canada, Indonesia,

Germany and the US.
The main passenger satellite comes from the home land with the name Cartosat, which can take images at sub-meter resolution. The other two Indian satellites are Sathyabhamasat and Swayam.

# Scramjet engine 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Scramjet engine at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh around 80 km from Chennai.

The scramjet engine works on supersonic wave technology and will be helpful in bringing down the overall launch cost of weather satellite INSAT-3DR