ISRO gets nod for PSLV-45 launch with satellites

Nellore: ISRO's Mission Readiness Review Committee gave a green signal for the launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C45) with India's EMISAT satellite and 28 international satellites on board from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shar, Sriharikota, in SPSR Nellore district on April 1 at 9.30 am.

The committee, led by its chairman and honorary advisor to ISRO Dr B.N. Suresh met at Shar on Saturday and cleared the launch. The Launch Authorisation Board also met late in the evening at Shar to give its nod to the mission.

PSLV-C45 vehicle has been moved from the Vehicle Assembly Buil-ding to the Umbilical Tower in SHAR. All electrical checks are being performed.

EMISAT based on ISRO's Indian mini-satellite-2 (IMS-2) bus platform weighs about 436 kg. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement.

PS4 (fourth stage of the PSLV) orbital platform is envisaged to provide a microgravity environment for research organisations and academic institutes to perform experiments.

In this mission, the PS4 hosts three payloads, namely, automatic identification system (AIS) from ISRO, automatic packet repe-ating system (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India and advanced retarding potential analyser for Ionospheric studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).

The 28 international customer satellites are from four countries, Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland and USA. All the satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements.