Isro's PSLV-C42 takes off successfully with two foreign satellites on board

After a successful countdown, which started at 01:08 pm (IST) on Saturday, PSLV-C42 soared into the sky from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota near Chennai

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Sunday successfully launched into space the NovaSAR and S1-4 earth observation satellites of the UK from the spaceport here and successfully placed them in the designated orbit.

After the countdown, which started at 1.08 pm on Saturday, PSLV-C42 took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at 10.08 pm on Sunday. 

In this configuration, the rocket is without six solid strap-on motors. This version was first flown in April 2007, and is the lightest version of PSLV.

The rocket carried two foreign satellites, NovaSAR and S1-4, which were launched into a 583-km Sun Synchronous Orbit. The satellites were of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), UK. Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of Isro, was given the contract for the launch. 

ISRO)'s PSLV-C42 before lifting off from first launchpad of Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, on Sunday

NovaSAR with S-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a small satellite intended for forest mapping, land use and ice cover monitoring, flood & disaster monitoring, ship detection and maritime monitoring. These satellites have a collective weight of about 889 kg. 

S1-4 is a high-resolution Optical Earth Observation Satellite used for surveying resources, environment, urban management and disaster monitoring. 

Isro Chairman K Sivan said PSLV, in its 44th flight, has once again proved it is a reliable launch vehicle. “Isro will have 18 missions in the next six months, including 10 satellite missions and eight launch vehicle missions. It translates to one launch every two weeks,” said Sivan.