Sriharikota (NVI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched its latest spy satellite RISAT-2BR1 along with nine foreign satellites. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 50th mission placed all 10 satellites on board in their designated orbits.
PSLVC48, the launch vehicle, lifted-off at 3:25 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre launch pad in Sriharikota.
#PSLVC48 carrying #RISAT2BR1 & 9 customer satellites successfully lifts off from Sriharikota pic.twitter.com/Y1pxI98XWg
— ISRO (@isro) December 11, 2019
According to ISRO statement RISAT-2BR1 was placed in its orbit about 16 minutes after the liftoff. The remaining nine customer satellites were released into their respective orbits around five minutes later.
#RISAT2BR1 satellite successfully placed in orbit by #PSLVC48
Here’s a picture of satellite separation captured by onboard camera pic.twitter.com/OssPM4uwsG— ISRO (@isro) December 11, 2019
ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan said today we achieved an important milestone in the history of PSLV by successfully launching its 50th mission.
“This versatile launcher has lifted off 52.7 tonne into space, of which 17% belongs to customer satellites,” he added.
A book titled ‘PSLV@ 50’ was released by Dr. Sivan on this occasion.
RISAT-2BR1 is a 628 kg radar imaging earth observation satellite developed by ISRO. The satellite has a life of five years.
The first satellite in the RISAT-2B series was launched earlier this year to replace the now decommissioned RISAT-2. RISAT-2BR1 will be followed by another satellite of the RISAT-2B series later this month.
A fourth RISAT-2B type satellite will be launched later to complete a quartet of ‘spy’ satellites with advance earth imaging abilities.
Today’s launch is not only PSVL’s 50th mission but is also the 75th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
