An Indian rocket launched two Singaporean satellites into low Earth orbit early Saturday (April 22) morning.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center on Saturday at 4:49 a.m. EST (0849 GMT; 2:19 p.m. IST), carrying an Earth observation satellite and a communications technology demonstration vehicle. . high above.
About 20 minutes later, the rocket deployed two spacecraft as planned.
In a textbook launch, the spacecraft accurately placed the TeLEOS-2 and LUMELITE-4 satellites at their intended 586km distance. [364 miles] Circular orbit,” officials of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) he said via Twitter (Opens in a new tab) on saturday.
Related: Facts and information about ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organization
PSLV roaring in the sky 🚀 pic.twitter.com/baSVrpoR7MApril 22, 2023
The main payload of the 145-foot (44-meter) PSLV station Saturday was TeLEOS-2, an Earth-observing satellite that will collect image data for the Singapore government.
The spacecraft will study our planet using synthetic aperture radar, which can look through clouds and operate day as well as night. The 1,630-pound (740-kilogram) satellite is capable of resolving features on Earth with a size of 3.3 feet (1 meter), ISRO wrote earlier. Description of the Saturday task (Opens in a new tab).
LUMELITE-4 is a 35 lb (16 kg) communications demonstrator developed by the National University of Singapore and the National Science Technology and Research Agency.
LUMELITE-4 aims to demonstrate a new data exchange system, which is designed to “increase the maritime safety of Singapore’s electronic navigation and benefit the global shipping community,” ISRO officials wrote.
In addition, the PSLV fourth stage was modified ahead of Saturday’s flight to serve as an in-orbit research platform.
Seven non-deployable experimental payloads have been integrated into the “PSLV Orbital Experimental Module,” or POEM. These instruments — from ISRO, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and Indian companies Bellatrix and Dhruva Space — are expected to operate aboard POEM for about a month in orbit, according to ISRO.
ISRO officials said Saturday marked the third time a POEM has been flown carried on a PSLV mission.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:10 AM ET April 22 with news of the successful launch and satellite deployment.
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