Isro set to launch 20 satellites today, says countdown in smooth progress

CHENNAI: The countdown for the launch of as many as 20 satellites, including India’s Earth observation Cartosat-2 Series Satellite, is in smooth progress, Isro said

CHENNAI: The countdown for the launch of as many as 20 satellites, including India’s Earth observation Cartosat-2 Series Satellite, is in smooth progress, Isro said on Tuesday.

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The countdown exercise encompasses spacecraft health checks and preparations for propellant filling operation of second stage (PS2) of PSLV-C34 is in progress.

“Spacecraft health checks and preparations for propellant filling operation of second stage (PS2) of PSLV-C34 are under progress. Countdown is progressing normally,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said.

The 48-hour countdown began on Monday at 9.26 am for the launch of 20 satellites onboard PSLV C-34 from Sriharikota on Wednesday.

The countdown began after the launch authorisation board (LAB) gave its nod and filling of Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) of PS4 was completed on Monday.

Cartosat-2 Series is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B, and 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off would be injected into a 505-km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. According to Isro, the total weight of all the 20 satellites is about 1,288 kg.

The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian universities.

T he mission will car r y LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, Isro sources had earlier said.