In yet another successful, clinically precise mission, ISRO’s highly dependable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or the PSLV – C43 ascended into the skies from Launch pad 1 at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh and placed 31 satellites into orbits from 8 countries. this also includes India’s first hyperspectral imaging satellite, HySis.
The launch took place at 9:58 AM earlier today (Nov 29th). The rocket successfully dispatched the HysIS at an altitude of 630km exactly 17 min 27 sec into the launch, later placing rest of the satellites via descent. It then proceeded to descend to a height of 504 km where it dispatched the 30 international satellites in batches of two.
This is the first time Australia, Colombia, Malaysia, and Spain have sent their sats to space via the PSLV. Fun Fact: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) holds the record for launching the highest number of satellites in a single mission – 104 -on February 15, 2017. This was ISRO’s third longest expedition lasting 112 minutes.
So yeah, the time that it takes you to go from your house to work (Bangaloreans, heads up!), ISRO dispatched over 30 satellites into space. The 230-tonne powerhouse of a rocket carried a luggage of 641 kg. The HysIS weighing in 380 kg and the 30 other satellites(1 microsatellite and 29 nanosatellites) weighing 261.5 kg.
While the rocket did successfully complete its mission of placing 30 international satellites into space, the HysIS was the real showstopper, rest were largely nano satellites.
This however, isn’t the first time the Indian Space agency is experimenting with the Hyperspectral imaging technology. ISRO first tried a decade ago in May 2008 when they launched the 83-kg IMS-1 experimental satellite, and later with the highly celebrated Chandrayan-1 probe which was used to study the mineral resources on our moon. This would be our first Hyperspectral Imaging satellite to be used to study the earth.
HysIS is a very rare satellite with a super-sharp eye, and very few countries have indigenously mastered this technology. Many countries are trying to send such hyper-spectral cameras into space but interpreting its results is not easy
said ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan.
To know more about the HysIS technology or other details regarding the launch click here
