PSLV C23 to lift-off on June 30 with five foreign satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on June 30 will launch its PSLV C23 carrying five foreign satellites from France, Germany, Canada and Singapore.

Isro said the lift-off of PSLV C23 satellite launching vehicle was scheduled at 09:49 hours from the Sriharikota space station near Chennai.

The five satellites include 830 kg SPOT-7 earth observation satellite for France. The satellite is similar to the Indian Remote Satellite System (IRSS).

Germany is sending its AISAT satellite, which is an experimental spacecraft-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensor in the low-earth orbit, meant for tracking maritime assets, according to Isro's facebook postings.

Other satellites include NLS7.1 and NLS 7.2 for Canada and VELOX-1 for Singapore, and four co-passenger satellites weighing 14-15 kg each. The satellites were integrated with the launcher, said ISRO.

The PSLV C23’s commercial launch will be for the Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Isro. Early this year, the corporation said it was expecting a 15 per cent growth in turnover as many countries were using Isro’s infrastructure and expertise to launch satellites for their use.

As the reliability rate of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) has been ‘superb’, according to Isro, with 25 continuously successful flights of the PSLV, till April 2014, this time too the PSLV will be used for the launch.

PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch and its geosynchronous launch capability.

In the Chandrayaan mission, another variant of the PSLV with an extended version of strap-on motors, PSOM-XL, the payload haul was enhanced to 1,750 kg in 620 km SSPO (sun-synchronous polar orbit). PSLV earned the status as the workhorse of Isro.

India’s first interplanetary mission, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), was carried by the PSLV.