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Isro plans to launch a world record of 104 satellites on a single Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 15 February 2015 at 9:28 am. The main payload is the indigenous Earth Observation Satellite, CartoSat-2D. The remaining co-passengers are all nanosatellites, mostly based on the CubeSat standard. There are 88 satellites on board from Planet Labs, which is a record in itself as the most number of satellites of a single constellation deployed at once.
The nanosatellites are piggybacking on a launch meant primarily for the CartoSat-2D, and Isro is using it’s “workhorse” launch vehicle to its full capacity. The commercial arm of Isro, was responsible for getting the nanosatellites on board, and more than half of the mission cost will be recovered because of the foreign satellites.
The live cast may use some unfamiliar terms and short forms, so here is a small primer.
PSLV - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, India’s most reliable rocket.
XL - A configuration of the PSLV that has six additional strap on motors. The launch vehicle is then designated as PSLV-XL. If the rocket is used without the strap on motors, it is called the PSLV-CA variant, the CA stands for Core Alone.
CubeSat - an easily configurable nanosatellite platform that was originally developed for academic purposes.
INS - Isro Nano Satellite, an indigenous standard similar to the CubeSat
SDSC - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India’s main rocket launching facility. India still launches sounding rockets from its first launch facility, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
SHAR - Sriharikota High Altitude Range, the particular facility in SDSC that launches rockets. Often used interchangeably with SDSC.
FLP - First Launch Pad, the launch pad being used for the PSLV-C37 mission. There are two active launch pads at SDSC, and a third one is planned.
SSO - Sun Sychronous Orbit is an orbit where satellites pass over a point at the same time every day. This orbit is particularly useful for imaging the earth, as it offers consistent lighting across many passes. A mid morning pass is ideal as it has the least amount of shadows.
Isro - Indian Space Research Organisation
Antrix - The commercial arm of Isro, responsible for getting marketing India’s launch services. Antrix negotiated the deals to get the 101 foreign satellites on board.
This story is a part of a series on the world record launch of 104 satellites on a single mission by Isro. The stories in the series are:
- Isro aims for a World record, to launch 83 satellites on a single rocket
- ISRO to launch world record 100 satellites in the PSLV-C37 mission scheduled for February
- Launching 103 satellites is not about setting a record, but to maximise capability, says ISRO chief
- Isro adds another passenger to the PSLV-C37 mission, 104 satellite launch rescheduled to mid February
- Isro plans to involve Indian industries to increase satellite launch capacity
- Isro’s mid-February PSLV-C37 launch of 104 satellites to have 88 satellites from Planet Labs
- Isro chief AS Kiran Kumar outlines the various uses of Indian satellites to students
- Isro’s PSLV-C37 launch scheduled for 15 February at 9:00 AM, here are the confirmed details
- Isro is going to break these previous satellite launch records with the PSLV-C37 mission
- Isro to recover half the cost of record breaking PSLV-C37 launch from foreign customers
- Isro PSLV-C37 record breaking mission run up: A history of rockets and launch vehicles in India
- Isro PSLV-C37 mission: The US private sector is threatened by cheap Indian spaceflight
- Isro has plans to go to Venus and visit Mars again in the future, along with 104 satellites launch on 15 Feb
- Isro’s record breaking PSLV-C37 mission: These are the 104 satellites on board
- Isro PSLV-C37 launch: How Antrix compares to other satellite launch services
- Isro’s launch of the PSLV-C37 mission with 104 satellites is subsidised by the Government
- Isro’s record breaking PSLV-C37 mission: Here is how to follow the launch as it happens
- Isro releases curtain raiser and satellite integration videos ahead of the PSLV-C37 launch