Indian Space Research Organization – ISRO is gearing up for its heaviest and biggest commercial launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C-28 tonight.
It is scheduled to put into orbit five satellites belonging to the UK firms at 9.58 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta, India’s spaceport. The PSLV-C-28 is decked with three optical earth observation satellites of the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited called DMC3, its micro satellite CBNT-1 and a nano-satellite called ‘DeOrbitSail’ from Surrey Space Centre, the UK.
Since the total launch weight of all five payloads is 1440 kg, the proven workhorse PSLV is configured in its extended version, as it was done in the case of Chandrayaan-One and Mangalyaan launches in the past.
ISRO Public Relations Director, said that the countdown process is in smooth progression and the filling up of liquid fuels in its fourth and second stages have been completed. Though ISRO in association with its commercial arm ‘Antrix’ has launched 40 foreign satellites so far, today’s launch is the biggest in scale and weight.