PSLV-C45 launched successfully by ISRO

The rocket, PSLV-C45, injected the 436 kg EMISAT, designed for the electromagnetic measurement, and 28 co-passenger satellites into their selected orbits, ISRO said. The rocket lifted off impressively in a surge of orange flames at 9:27 am from the second launch pad at spaceport at the end of the 27-hour countdown.

The operation marks numerous firsts to the recognition of the space agency as it would maneuver satellites in different orbits and orbital experiments as well as on maritime satellite applications. All the 28 customer satellites, totally weighing about 220 kgs, were released into around 504 km orbit, after the fourth stage was reignited and lowered in a complex operation lasting around two hours.

This is the first time it has been envisioned to provide a micro-gravity environment for research organizations and academic institutes to accomplish experiments. The PS4-fourth stage hosts three payloads in this mission:

1.Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO for maritime satellite applications taking messages transmitted from ships

2.Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India - to assist amateur radio operators in tracing and observing position data and

3.Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) - for the structural and compositional studies of ionosphere, according to ISRO.

With this launch, India has successfully raised and put 297 foreign satellites till date into orbit. PSLV, also used in India's two key missions, namely, "Chandrayan" in 2008 and Mars Orbiter in 2013, is a dependable and multipurpose launch vehicle for ISRO with 39 successive successful flights till June, 2017 and five-in-a row from January 2018.

The ISRO will also be introducing two more defense satellites sometime in July or August with its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The preceding launches by ISRO this year include the imaging satellite Microsat-R for military purpose along with 1.2 kg Kalamsat in January onboard PSLV-C44.