PSLV-C29 takes off successfully with 6 Singapore satellites

The launch also enables Isro to develop rockets that can launch satellites in different orbits during one flight

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) today successfully launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s core alone variant (PSLV-C29), which was carrying six Singaporean satellites.

Today’s mission was the second commercial mission for ISRO's commercial arm Antrix in 2015. The earlier one was in July for the launch of five British satellites.

The test will enable ISRO to develop rockets that can launch orbits at different orbits in one flight.

As scheduled, at 6 pm, the PSLV rocket standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing around 227 tonne took off from the first launch pad at Sirharikota space port, around 90 kms from Chennai. The rocket weighing around 620 kg as its luggage slung them into their intended orbit in a timeframe of over 21 minutes into its flight.

Of the six satellites, the 400 kg earth observation satellite called TeLEOS-1 is the main passenger for the PSLV rocket and hence the mission is called TeLEOS mission by ISRO.

TeLEOS-1 is Singapore's first commercial earth observation satellite designed and developed by ST Electronics. The other five co-passenger satellites are VELOX-C1 (123 kg), VELOX-II (13 kg), Kent Ridge-1 (78 kg), Galassia (3.4 kg) and Athenoxat-1.

The successful launch of these satellites takes ISRO's total flights of foreign satellites to 57.

Through this launch Isro also tested a multiple burn fuel stage/rocket engine for the first time.

"The restart and shut off of the fourth stage engine is done as a first step towards launching multiple satellites but in different orbits," said experts.

Isro has been launching multiple satellites through a single rocket, but the challenge has been how to launch several satellites at different orbits with one rocket and that is what Isro tested after PSLV ejected out six Singaporean satellites.

Today's mission is scheduled to be the last launch for ISRO in 2015. ISRO has launched 20 satellites, including three Indian and 17 foreign, from Sriharikotta this year. These includes 19 satellites were launched through PSLV rocket and one communication satellite - GSAT-6-with geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).

Last month India launched its communication satellite GSAT-15 using the Ariane rocket of the European space agency which takes the total number of satellite launches in 2015 to 21 (17 foreign, four Indian).