After beginning a 28-hour countdown on Thursday morning, ISRO seems all set to go ahead with the launch of the PSLV-C40/ Cartosat-2 Series mission. The mission will include ISRO's 100th satellite launch and is expected to launch at 9.29 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which has been a workhorse for ISRO will take into orbit a total of 31 satellites, of which the Cartosat 2-series satellite and two others are Indian satellites. The 28 others are hosted by six different nations.
PSLV-C40 on First Launch Pad. Image: ISRO
Based on information provided by ISRO, the Cartosat 2 series satellite is the third satellite in the Cartosat series which is made with the objective of providing high-resolution scene-specific spot imagery which will be used for Land Information System (LIS) as well as Geographical Information System (GIS)-based applications. The satellite is on the heavier side, weighing 710 kg.
Published Date: Jan 12, 2018 09:13 AM | Updated Date: Jan 12, 2018 09:33 AM
Highlights
09:33 (IST)
The heat shield has also come off safely as things seem to be on course for a successful ISRO launch.
09:32 (IST)
The second stage separation has been ignited and will happen after 4 minutes and 21 seconds after launch.
09:31 (IST)
The first stage separation is expected to happen at 1 minute and 48 seconds from launch.
09:29 (IST)
We have lift-off at Sriharikota.
09:28 (IST)
We are just over a minute away from the launch of the PSLV-C40/ Cartosat 2 series satellite launch.
09:27 (IST)
Based on information provided by ISRO, the total weight of all the 31 satellites carried onboard PSLV-C40 is about 1323 kg.
09:26 (IST)
There has been a small change in the launch time and the PSLV-C40 will now lift-off at 9:31 am.
09:24 (IST)
We are just 3 minutes away from launch. Weather seems to be all clear for the time being with a very mild breeze.
09:22 (IST)
The PSLV-C40 will also carry 16 nanosatellites made by the US into the sun-synchronous orbit of the Earth.
09:21 (IST)
Of the 3 Indian satellites being launched, one is the Cartosat 2 series satellite, one microsatellite and one nanosatellite.
09:19 (IST)
This will be the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's 42th flight.
08:59 (IST)
Alongside the Cartosat 2 series satellite, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to take 30 other micro and nanosatellites into orbit.
08:57 (IST)
The clock reads 8:58 am and we are exactly half an hour away from ISRO launching the PSLV-C40/ Cartosat 2 series satellite into the Earth's orbit.