5 Must Know Facts about ISRO PSLV-C23 Launch


Payload of PSLV-C23:
The PSLV-C23 main payload is the 714-kg French earth observation satellite SPOT-7. The other satellites include 14-kg AISAT of Germany; NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) from Canada each weighing 15 kg; and the seven-kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

As per the mission plan, the rocket first released its heaviest and most costly luggage -SPOT-7 - at around 18 minutes after the launch.

Incidentally SPOT-7 is the heaviest foreign satellite carried by PSLV. The ejection of SPOT-7 is followed by AISAT, NLS7.1, NLS7.2 and VELOX-1.

Tasks of the 5 Satellites:
French satellite SPOT 7, identical to SPOT-6, which ISRO had launched in 2012, was placed diametrically opposite to SPOT-6, forming part of the existing Earth observation satellite. European space Technology Company Airbus Defense and Space has built SPOT-7.

Germany's AISAT satellite is focus on the global sea-traffic monitoring system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using AIS signals. It is also Germany's first DLR satellite in the nano-satellite class.

NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2 performed Two-spacecraft precision formation flying using differential GPS with centimetre-level relative position and sub-metre level accurate position control system.
Satellite VELOX-1  is a technology demonstrator for in-house design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter-satellite RF link.

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