ISRO’s World Record PSLV C37 Launch: Top 10 Facts You Should Know

ISRO on February 15, 2017, created history and world record by successfully launching 104 satellites on a single mission. India overtook the previous record of 37 satellites launched (by Russia in 2014).  The satellites were launched using the launch vehicle of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – PSLV C37.

The PSLV C37 mission, conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was a landmark event in space history.

This mission is notable for launching a record number of satellites into orbit in a single mission, showcasing ISRO’s advanced capabilities in satellite deployment and orbital management.

ISRO’s PSLV C37 Launch: Top 10 Facts You Should Know

This remarkable feat by ISRO is yet another proud moment for the Indian space scientific community and the nation.

Key Highlights:

• Launch Date and Location:
  • Date: February 15, 2017
  • Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India
• Launch Vehicle:
  • Rocket: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C37
  • Configuration: PSLV-XL, the most powerful variant of the PSLV
• Mission Objective:
  • The primary objective was to launch the Cartosat-2D earth observation satellite.
  • The secondary objective was to deploy 103 co-passenger satellites into space, bringing the total to 104 satellites.

Technical Details:

• Launch Sequence:
  • The PSLV C37’s fourth stage was equipped with multiple satellite dispensers to deploy the payloads in a coordinated manner.
  • After the primary satellite, Cartosat-2D, was released into a sun-synchronous polar orbit, the smaller satellites were deployed sequentially.
• Deployment Precision:
  • The mission demonstrated ISRO’s precision in deploying multiple satellites into their designated orbits.
  • Utilized sophisticated technology to ensure that each satellite was correctly positioned without collision or interference.

Let’s see the top facts of this mission.

Fact 1: PSLV C37 carried 3 Indian Satellites and 101 foreign satellites

Of the 104 satellites ISRO launched today, three are Indian and 101 are foreign. United States (96), Israel, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the Netherlands are the foreign clients.

Fact 2: 103 satellites were nanosatellites

PSLV carried a 714-kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller “nanosatellites” weighing 664 kilograms.

Fact 3: A Major Indian Satellite is CARTOSAT-2

An Indian cartographic satellite, believed capable of taking high-resolution images is also on board. It is expected to monitor regional arch-rivals in Pakistan and China. Other Indian satellites are INS-1A and INS-1B.

Fact 4: Sriharikota

The launch took place from the spaceport of Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This is about 125 km from Chennai.

Fact 5: 18 minutes

In about 18 minutes all the satellites were released into space.

Fact 6: Growing Business

India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. This world record-creating PSLV launch is a sign that India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. Putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is a growing business sector. That’s because companies, as well as countries, are seeking greater and more high-tech communications.

Also read: Aditya-L1 Mission

ISRO: Plans for the Future

Fact 7: India had already successfully demonstrated her scientific capabilities with 2 major space missions – Chandrayan mission (to the moon) and Mangalyan mission (to Mars).

Fact 8: The second mission to Mars is tentatively slated for in 2021-2022. As per existing plans, it may well involve putting a robot on the surface of the Red Planet.

Fact 9: ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.

Fact 10: In addition to this, ISRO is also working on a Reusable Launch Vehicle, widely known as India’s space shuttle.

Conclusion

The PSLV C37 mission was a remarkable achievement for ISRO, setting a world record and showcasing India’s advanced space capabilities. By successfully deploying 104 satellites in a single mission, ISRO demonstrated its technical expertise, precision, and reliability, reinforcing its position as a leading player in the global space industry. The mission not only expanded India’s satellite deployment capacity but also opened new opportunities for international collaboration and commercial ventures in space technology.

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