Categories: Research

ISRO To Launch Record 83 Satellites In One Go In Jan

BENGALURU: ISRO today said it would launch a record 83 satellites in one go using its workhorse PSLV-C37 toward the end of January.

“We are working for a January launch. It will be toward the end of January. “Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters here that they have to fix the date.”

Of the 83 satellites, 80 belong to Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland and the US. They weigh about 500 kg.

The three Indian satellites are Cartosat-2 series, weighing 730 kg as primary payload, and INS-IA and INS-1B, weighing 30 kg.

Setting a record in its space programme, ISRO in June had successfully launched 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission on board PSLV-C34 from the spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit on a single mission in 2008.

Calling 2016 a “good” year, Kumar said ISRO would launch at least five communication satellites in 2017.

“It (launches) will be more next year, we are actually looking at almost something like five communication satellites, then many more others. Some earth observation also,” he said in response to a question on the number of launches that can be expected in 2017.

“In the year we are primarily trying to do our GSLV Mark III, then Mark II… one more launch we are trying to do,” Kumar said.

He said on the sidelines of the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here that the first three months should see three launches, beyond which ISRO was targeting almost one a month.

Kumar stated that 2016 was a good year because ISRO was able to improve on what they were doing the previous year, emphasizing that the main focus now was on building capacity.

“We need more and more capacity, launch capacity. We are working toward that. Our effort is to continuously increase,” he added.

Kumar stated that 2016 was a good year because ISRO was able to improve on what they were doing the previous year, emphasizing that the main focus now was on building capacity. We are trying to do something like 14 gigabyte and 90 gigabyte type of thing- multi beam satellites.”

Noting that ISRO is conducting tests for hazard avoidance for Chandrayaan 2 as it lands, he said, “We are verifying the performance of the system as designed.”

“Chandrayaan 2, we are preparing for hazard avoidance, as it lands then it has to avoid boulders and things. We are verifying the performance of the system as designed, so there are some craters created and as it comes down how it negotiates. We are evaluating the performance of the system,” he added.

ISRO has been conducting these tests at its facility in Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.

Sameer

Sameer is a writer, entrepreneur and investor. He is passionate about inspiring entrepreneurs and women in business, telling great startup stories, providing readers with actionable insights on startup fundraising, startup marketing and startup non-obviousnesses and generally ranting on things that he thinks should be ranting about all while hoping to impress upon them to bet on themselves (as entrepreneurs) and bet on others (as investors or potential board members or executives or managers) who are really betting on themselves but need the motivation of someone else’s endorsement to get there. Sameer is a writer, entrepreneur and investor. He is passionate about inspiring entrepreneurs and women in business, telling great startup stories, providing readers with actionable insights on startup fundraising, startup marketing and startup non-obviousnesses and generally ranting on things that he thinks should be ranting about all while hoping to impress upon them to bet on themselves (as entrepreneurs) and bet on others (as investors or potential board members or executives or managers) who are really betting on themselves but need the motivation of someone else’s endorsement to get there.

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