Countdown to launch of PSLV-C62 mission begins, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• ISRO began the 22.5-hour countdown for the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Sunday.
• The launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), carrying the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites, is scheduled for Monday at 10.17 a.m.
• This mission marks the 105th launch from Sriharikota and the 64th flight of the PSLV, specifically the fifth mission of the PSLV-DL variant.
• The EOS-N1 satellite is intended for strategic purposes, while the 15 co-passenger satellites were developed by start-ups and academic institutions from India and abroad.

Detailed Insights:

• The PSLV-C62 mission is a commercial endeavor by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), involving the injection of EOS-N1 and 14 co-passenger satellites into a Sun Synchronous Orbit.
• After satellite injection, the PS4 stage will be restarted to de-boost and enter a re-entry trajectory, followed by KID Capsule separation, with both impacting the South Pacific Ocean.
• The 15 co-passenger satellites include the Theos-2 earth observation satellite (Thailand and U.K.), CGUSAT, DSUSAT, MOI-1, LACHIT, Thybolt-3 (India), Munal (Nepal), KID Capsule (Spain and France), Edusat, Uaisat, Galaxy Explorer, Orbital Temple, Aldebaran-1 (Brazil), Sanskarsat (India), and AyulSat (India).
• Sun Synchronous Orbit is a near-polar orbit where the satellite passes over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local solar time.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): An expendable medium-lift launch vehicle designed and operated by ISRO.
• Sun Synchronous Orbit: A near-polar orbit where a satellite passes over the same location at the same local solar time.
• NSIL (NewSpace India Limited): The commercial arm of ISRO responsible for marketing and commercializing space products and technologies.