ISRO places 2 foreign earth observation satellites in orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched into space the NovaSAR and S1-4 earth observation satellites of U.K from the spaceport here and successfully placed them in the designated orbit.

NovaSAR is intended to be used for forest mapping, land use and ice cover monitoring, flood and disaster monitoring.

S1-4 will be used for surveying resources, environment monitoring, urban management and disaster monitoring.

In a night launch, the workhorse PSLV-C42 launch vehicle blasted off from the first launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10.08 PM.

The PSLV injected the satellites into orbit 17 minutes and 45 seconds after lift off and placed them in a sun synchronous orbit 583 km from the earth.

ISRO chairman K Sivan said the mission was a success and congratulated the scientists.

"Today I am exteremly happy to announce that PSLV-C42 carrying two customer satellites NovaSAR and S1-4 placed them precisely in orbit.

Within the next six months, 10 satellite missions and eight launch vehicle missions would be launced - one every two weeks, he said
The two satellites of UK-based Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd (SSTL), both weighing 889 kg, were launched as per a commercial arrangement between the company and ISRO's